Phytochemical Profiling of Mentha asiatica Boriss. Leaf Extracts: Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities

Abstract

This study examines the phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties of Mentha asiatica Boriss. leaves, valued for their medicinal applications in Central Asia. Using Soxhlet apparatus ethanol extraction (SAE), vortex-assisted ethanol extraction (VAE), ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UAE), and hydrodistillation, followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, a variety of bioactive compounds were identified, including alkanes, ketones, terpenes, and fatty acids. Piperitenone oxide was the predominant component across all extraction methods (49.29%–87.65%). The antimicrobial properties of alkanes and ketones, attributed to their ability to disrupt microbial membranes, highlight their potential in antimicrobial formulations. UAE ethanol extract demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity, evaluated via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, and exhibited potent antimicrobial effects, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.012 mg/mL against Candida albicans and 0.15 mg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These findings underscore the potential of M. asiatica Boriss. as a source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. Advanced optimization strategies, such as response surface modeling, could further enhance the extraction efficiency and bioactivity. Future research should explore uncharacterized compounds to maximize therapeutic potential, emphasizing M. asiatica Boriss. as a valuable source of bioactive molecules for oxidative stress mitigation and infectious disease control.