Pharmacological investigation of methanol extract of Mentha piperita L. roots on the basis of antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Mentha piperita L. (Lamiaceae) leaves have been traditionally implemented in the treatment of minor sore throat and minor mouth or throat irritation by the indigenous people of India, although the compounds responsible for the medicinal properties have not been identified. The plant has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries. The methanol root extract of the plant was evaluated for antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The extract was found to possess maximum potency against infectious pathogens. Besides the antimicrobial effect maximum antioxidant capacity was observed in methanol extracts. The methanol extract of the roots of the plant also possessed maximum anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced animal model in dose dependent manner at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The values p<0.05 were found to be significant. Different other extracts showed no potency in comparison to other solvent extracts of the plant. These active crude methanol extracts were also assayed for cellular toxicity to fresh sheep erythrocytes and found to have no cellular toxicity.

Author(s): Abhishek Mathur, Reena Purohit, Deepika Mathur, GBKS Prasad and V. K. Dua

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