Mentha longifolia (L.) ssp. longifolia Essential Oil: Source of Natural Antioxidant and Antimutagen as Food Additive

Abstract

This research was performed to control the antioxidant activity, mutagenicity and antimutagenic effect of Mentha longifolia (L.) ssp. longifolia essential oil (EO), which is considered as a possible ingredient when producing healthy food. The antiradical activity was established using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical) and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assays. The total phenolic content in the EO was evaluated by Folin Ciocalteau method (FCR). Ames Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay was applied todetect possible mutagenic and antimutagenic behavior. Our observations reveal that the IC50 value for DPPH radicals was 5.27 ± 0.13 mg/mL. The total antioxidant efficiency increased with an increase in the concentration of the EO, and IC50 value 11.7 ± 0.21 mg/mL. The total of phenolics was 186 ± 8.9 mg/g gallic acid equivalent/EO. Also, any concentrations of the EO used did not show mutagenic action but exhibited strong antimutagenic effects at 10.0-4.0 µg/plate concentrations. This research proposes that because of the antioxidant and antimutagenic characteristics, the EO is very advantageous and significant to the company’s manufacturing food additives.