Antimicrobial screening of Mentha piperita essential oils

Iscan G., Kirimer N., Kurkcuoglu M., Baser K., DEMİRCİ F.

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY, vol.50, no.14, pp.3943-3946, 2002 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 50 Issue: 14
  • Publication Date: 2002
  • Doi Number: 10.1021/jf011476k
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.3943-3946
  • Keywords: Mentha piperita, essential oils, antimicrobial activity, bioautography, TLC, GC, GC/MS, ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY, ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY, PRODUCTS, AGENTS, PLANTS
  • Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Essential oils of peppermint Mentha piperita L. (Lamiaceae), which are used in flavors, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals, were investigated for their antimicrobial properties against 21 human and plant pathogenic microorganisms. The bioactivity of the oils menthol and menthone was compared using the combination of in vitro techniques such as microdilution, agar diffusion, and bioautography. It was shown that all of the peppermint oils screened strongly inhibited plant pathogenic microorganisms, whereas human pathogens were only moderately inhibited. Chemical compositions of the oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Using the bioautography assay, menthol was found to be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of these oils.