Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Prakash J, Arora NK. Phosphate-solubilizing Bacillus sp. enhances growth, phosphorus uptake and oil yield of Mentha arvensis L. 3 Biotech. 2019 Apr;9(4):126. doi: 10.1007/s13205-019-1660-5..

Abstract. In the present study, phosphate solubilizing rhizobacterial isolate STJP from the rhizosphere of Stevia rebaudiana was identified as a Bacillus sp. on the basis of phenotypic, biochemical, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In addition to phosphate solubilization ability, isolate Bacillus sp. STJP produced a significant quantity of siderophore (16.06 µg/ml) and indole 3-acetic acid (30.59 µg/ml). In the greenhouse experiment, treatment with STJP along with tricalcium phosphate (TCP²⁰⁰) showed significant increase in the plant growth parameters, oil yield and P uptake in M. arvensis as compared to the control plants. Amongst all the treatments, highest oil yield and menthol content were observed when treated with Bacillus sp. STJP + TCP²⁰⁰. Hence, an integrated approach of using Bacillus sp. STJP along with TCP can be used to increase the production of menthol and oil yield of M. arvensis. This approach of using fertilizer along with phosphate solubilizing Bacillus sp. worked very well and was more effective in comparison with individual treatment of fertilizer or plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. A combined use of efficient phosphate solubilising bacteria loaded with plant growth promoting characters along with TCP can thus be far effective way for enhancing the yield of crops in a sustainable manner.

Heydari M, Zanfardino A, Taleei A, Bushehri AAS, Hadian J, Maresca V, Sorbo S, Napoli MD, Varcamonti M, Basile A, Rigano D. Effect of Heat Stress on Yield, Monoterpene Content and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils of Mentha x piperita var. Mitcham and Mentha arvensis var. piperascens. Molecules. 2018 Jul 30;23(8):1903. doi: 10.3390/molecules23081903. 

Abstract. Heat stress affects the yield of medicinal plants and can reduce biomass and/or metabolite production. In order to evaluate the effect of heat-induced stress on the essential oil production in Mentha x piperita L. var. Mitcham (Mitcham mint) and Mentha arvensis var. piperascens Malinv. ex L. H. Bailey (Japanese mint), we studied the chemical composition of the oils of the two mint species under different heat shock stresses in growth chambers. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils was also evaluated; microscopic observation (fluorescence and electron transmission) was used to assess the effect of the tested samples on bacterial growth. The results obtained shed light on the mint essential oils composition and biological activity in relation to heat stress.

Kim SY, Han SD, Kim M, Mony TJ, Lee ES, Kim KM, Choi SH, Hong SH, Choi JW, Park SJ. Mentha arvensis Essential Oil Exerts Anti-Inflammatory in LPS-Stimulated Inflammatory Responses via Inhibition of ERK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Anti-Atopic Dermatitis-like Effects in 2,4-Dinitrochlorobezene-Induced BALB/c Mice. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Dec 3;10(12):1941. doi: 10.3390/antiox10121941. 

Abstract. The mechanism of atopic dermatitis (AD) is modulated by the release of cytokines and chemokines through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Topical steroids are used to treat AD, but some people need safer anti-inflammatory drugs to avoid side effects. Mentha arvensis has been used as a herbal plant with medicinal properties, but its anti-inflammatory effects have not been elucidated in an AD model. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of M. arvensis essential oil (MAEO) and its underlying molecular mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and HaCaT cells (human epidermal keratinocyte). Additionally, we examined the ameliorating effects of the MAEO in a dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced murine model of AD. We found, in both RAW 264.7 cells and HaCaT cells, MAEO inhibited LPS-stimulated inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 and proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-6, due to the suppression of COX-2 and iNOS expression. In LPS-stimulated macrophages, we also observed that MAEO inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and P65. Furthermore, MAEO treatment attenuated AD symptoms, including the dermatitis score, ear thickness, epidermal thickness and infiltration of mast cells, in a DNCB-induced animal model of AD. Overall, our findings suggest that MAEO exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic dermatitis effects via inhibition of the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Shelepova OV, Semenova MV, Enina OL, Schanzer IA. Genetic, phenotypic, and phytochemical polymorphism in Eastern European populations of Mentha arvensis L.  Genetika. 2017 Jan;53(1):54-62.

Abstract. Variability of M. arvensis from five geographically distanced populations was examined using morphological traits and phytochemical composition of essential oil and with the help of DNA fingerprinting using ISSR markers. The population differentiation based on morphological traits was weak. Analysis of the essential oil composition provided the subdivision of the sample into three groups and, on the basis of the composition of ISSR amplicons, into four groups of specimens. A high degree of genetic polymorphism of M. arvensis and substantial, though incomplete, population differentiation were identified. It was demonstrated that the population of M. arvensis from the Komi Republic was the most genetically isolated, while the populations from Moscow and Penza provinces were weakly differentiated from each other. The population from the Republic of Belarus (near Grodno) was genetically and phytochemically considerably different from the other studied populations, although morphologically indistinguishable from them. We argue that the differentiation was caused not only by the isolation by distance but also owing to the formation of three different ecotypes adapted to different climatic conditions.

Tian W, Akanda MR, Islam A, Yang HD, Lee SC, Lee JH, Kim SK, Choi YJ, Im SY, Park BY. The Anti-Stress Effect of Mentha arvensis in Immobilized Rats. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jan 25;19(2):355. doi: 10.3390/ijms19020355.

Abstract. Stress can lead to inflammation, accelerated aging, and some chronic diseases condition. Mentha arvensis (MA) is a traditional medicine having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study investigated the anti-stress role of MA and fermented MA (FMA) extract in immobilized rats. We studied the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells and rats were immobilized for 2 h per day for 14 days using a restraining cage. MA (100 mg/kg) and FMA (100 mg/kg) were orally administered to rats 1 h prior to immobilization. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, we determined the rosmarinic acid content of MA and FMA. The generation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 246.7 cells were suppressed by both MA and FMA. In rats, MA and FMA notably improved the body weight, daily food intake, and duodenum histology. MDA and NO level were gradually decreased by MA and FMA treatment. MA and FMA significantly controlled the stress-related hormones by decreasing corticosterone and β-endorphin and increasing serotonin level. Moreover, protein expression levels of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were markedly downregulated by MA and FMA. Taken together, MA and FMA could ameliorate immobilized-stress by reducing oxidative stress, regulating stress-related hormones, and MAPK/COX-2 signaling pathways in rats. Particularly, FMA has shown greater anti-stress activities than MA.

Manh HD, Tuyet OT. Larvicidal and Repellent Activity of Mentha arvensis L. Essential Oil against Aedes aegypti. Insects. 2020 Mar 22;11(3):198. doi: 10.3390/insects11030198.

Abstract. Dengue is one of the most dangerous vector-borne diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The use of mosquito repellents to protect human hosts and insecticides to reduce the mosquito population is a crucial strategy to prevent the disease. Here, we reported larvicidal and repellent activities of Mentha arvensis L. essential oil against Aedes aegypti, the main vector of the disease. The essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation from the aromatic plant grown in Vietnam. The yield was 0.67% based on the weight of fresh leaves. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main components were menthol (66.04%), menthyl acetate (22.19%), menthone (2.51%), and limonene (2.04%). Toxicity test on Aedes aegypti larvae showed that the median lethal concentrations, LC50 and LC90 were 78.1 ppm (part per million) and 125.7 ppm, respectively. Besides, the essential oil showed excellent repellency on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. At 25%, 50%, and 100% concentration, the respective complete protection times (CPTs) were 45 min, 90 min, and 165 min. When adding 5% vanillin to the essential oil (25%), the complete protection time of the essential oil increased up to 120 min. In conclusion, the EO from Mentha arvensis L. has been shown to be a promising natural larvicide and repellent against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Makkar MK, Sharma S, Kaur H. Evaluation of Mentha arvensis essential oil and its major constituents for fungitoxicity. J Food Sci Technol. 2018 Sep;55(9):3840-3844. doi: 10.1007/s13197-018-3291-y. 

Abstract. Essential oil and major constituents of menthe were evaluated for fungicidal activities. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of essential oil from leaves of Mentha arvensis cv. CIM-Saryu revealed that menthol was found in highest amount (77.94%) followed by isomenthone (5.24%), neomenthyl acetate (5.18%) and menthone (5.00%). Menthol and menthone were extracted from the essential oil by column chromatography. Essential oil, menthol and menthone were screened for their fungicidal activity against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium moniliforme. Menthol was highly effective as compared to essential oil as well as menthone. All of them exhibited less activity than standard bavistin at all the tested concentrations.

Kalemba D, Synowiec A. Agrobiological Interactions of Essential Oils of Two Menthol Mints: Mentha piperita and Mentha arvensis. Molecules. 2019 Dec 23;25(1):59. doi: 10.3390/molecules25010059. 

Abstract. This review article discusses the active constituents and potential of two menthol mint oils, Mentha piperita (MPEO) and Mentha arvensis (MAEO), as natural sources for botanical pesticides. The biological activities of these menthol mint oils, which can be useful in agriculture, have been broadly researched, especially toward phytotoxic microorganisms. To a lesser extent, the insecticidal and herbicidal activities of mint EOs have also been studied. It is apparent that the prospect of using menthol mint oils in agriculture is increasing in popularity. A number of investigations showed that the in vitro efficacy of MPEO and MAEO, as well as that of their main constituent, menthol, is pronounced. The results of in vitro research are useful for choosing EOs for further investigations. However, it is clear that in situ experiments are crucial and should be more extensively developed. At the same time, known techniques are to be applied to this area and new methods should be worked out, aiming at the improvement of EOs' pesticidal efficacy and cost-effectiveness, for future implementation in agricultural pest control.

Shin TY. Inhibition of immunologic and nonimmunologic stimulation-mediated anaphylactic reactions by the aqueous extract of Mentha arvensis. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2003 May;25(2):273-83. doi: 10.1081/iph-120020475. 

Abstract. The effect of aqueous extract of Mentha arvensis L. var. piperascens Malinv. (Labiatae) (MAAE) on immunologic and nonimmunologic stimulation-mediated anaphylactic reactions was studied. Nonimmunologic anaphylactic reaction was induced by compound 48/80 injection. MAAE (0.005 to 0.5 g/kg) inhibited systemic anaphylactic reaction induced by compound 48/80. Immunologic anaphylactic reaction was generated by sensitizing the skin with anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE followed 48 h later with an injection of antigen. MAAE (0.001 to 1 g/kg) dose-dependently inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) when intraperitoneally, intraveneously and orally administered. MAAE (0.001 to 1 mg/ml) dose-dependently inhibited the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) activated by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. Moreover, MAAE (0.1 mg/ml) had a significant inhibitory effect on anti-DNP IgE-mediated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. These results indicate that MAAE inhibits immunologic and nonimmunologic stimulation-mediated anaphylactic reactions and TNF-alpha production from RPMC.

Scartazzini L, Tosati JV, Cortez DHC, Rossi MJ, Flôres SH, Hubinger MD, Di Luccio M, Monteiro AR. Gelatin edible coatings with mint essential oil (Mentha arvensis): film characterization and antifungal properties. J Food Sci Technol. 2019 Sep;56(9):4045-4056. doi: 10.1007/s13197-019-03873-9.

Abstract. In this work, mint essential oil (MEO) was added into gelatin films and antifungal activity was evaluated. Five concentrations of MEO (0, 0.06, 0.13, 0.25, 0.38, 0.50% (g/g gelatin)) were incorporated into gelatin solutions. The films were prepared by casting and characterized for their barrier properties, mechanical resistance, morphology, thermal and antifungal activity. The addition of oil into the solution slightly improved water vapor barrier, increased thickness and opacity, decreased transparency and modified thermal and mechanical properties of films. With addition of oil above 0.38%, the films were effective against the growth of Botrytis cinerea and Rhizopus stolonifer, indicating an inhibitory activity. Thus, gelatin-based edible films incorporated with MEO showed to be an effective way to inhibit microbial growth on the film surface.