Medicinal plant Mentha pulegium L. – chemical profile and biological activity of its essential oil

Abstract

The medicinal plant Mentha pulegium L. (Lamiaceae) is used in traditional medicine of Bosnia and Herzegovina to treat neurological and gastrointestinal disorders [1]. Healing properties of M. pulegium are attributed to monoterpenoids present in its essential oil and polyphenol derivatives [2]. These bioactive components have an important role in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress. One of them is Alzheimer's disease, a neurological brain disorder and the most common form of dementia, affecting the older population. Inhibitors of cholinesterases have an important role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

                The aim of this work was to analyze the chemical composition as well as the antioxidant activity and cholinesterase inhibition potential of M. pulegium essential oil from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by GC/MS and GC/FID techniques. The antioxidant potential was tested using DPPH and FRAP methods [3,4]. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase was determined using the Ellman’s method [5].The major components found in M. pulegium essential oil where: pulegone (54.4%; Fig. 1), p-menthone (14.0%), piperitenone (12.8%) and piperitone (3.7%). A solution of the essential oil (1 g/L) showed a low antioxidant potential and a good inhibition of both cholinesterases.