Open AccessRADICAL SCAVENGING AND DISINFECTANT EFFECT OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM MOROCCAN MENTHA PULEGIUM
Author(s) -
Marwa Chraibi,
Kawtar Fikri-Benbrahim,
Douâae Ou-yahyia,
Mounyr Balouiri,
Abdellah Farah
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences/international journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2656-0097
pISSN - 0975-1491
DOI - 10.22159/ijpps.2016.v8i9.12434
Subject(s) - essential oil , antimicrobial , antioxidant , chemistry , food science , preservative , minimum inhibitory concentration , traditional medicine , biochemistry , organic chemistry , medicine
Objective: As part of the valorization of medicinal and aromatic plants in Morocco, this study aims to investigate the chemical composition, the antimicrobial and the antioxidant activities of Mentha pulegium essential oil. Methods: Essential oil of M. pulegium from Oued Laou region (Morocco) was screened for its antimicrobial activity against seven bacteria and two fungi using broth microdilution method. The radical scavenging effect was used to assess in vitro antioxidant capacity of this oil. Results: The tested essential oil exhibited strong inhibitory effect against all tested microorganisms with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.003% to 1% (v/v) except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Moreover, the studied essential oil exhibited radical scavenging power with the half maximal inhibitory concentration of 2 mg/ml. Conclusion: These findings showed that the studied essential oil has both an antimicrobial and antioxidant potential, which is very rare. Thus, it reinforces its use as an effective, eco-friendly preservative agent in food and cosmetic field.