Radical scavenging and disinfectant effect of essential oil from moroccan Mentha pulegium

Abstract

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.