Polyphenolic Profiling, Quantitative Assessment and Biological Activities of Tunisian Native Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Huds.
Ben Haj Yahia I, Zaouali Y, Ciavatta ML, Ligresti A, Jaouadi R, Boussaid M, Cutignano A.
Molecules. 2019 Jun 26;24(13). pii: E2351. doi: 10.3390/molecules24132351.

Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Cytoprotective Properties of Ethanolic Mint Extracts from Algeria on 7-Ketocholesterol-Treated Murine RAW 264.7 Macrophages.
Brahmi F, Nury T, Debbabi M, Hadj-Ahmed S, Zarrouk A, Prost M, Madani K, Boulekbache-Makhlouf L, Lizard G.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2018 Dec 6;7(12). pii: E184. doi: 10.3390/antiox7120184.

A new method for microwave assisted ethanolic extraction of Mentha rotundifolia bioactive terpenoids.
García-Sarrió MJ, Sanz ML, Sanz J, González-Coloma A, Cristina Soria A.
Electrophoresis. 2018 Apr 14. doi: 10.1002/elps.201800115.

Essential oils from Algerian species of Mentha as new bio-control agents against phytopathogen strains.
Benomari FZ, Andreu V, Kotarba J, Dib MEA, Bertrand C, Muselli A, Costa J, Djabou N.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2018 Oct;25(30):29889-29900. doi: 10.1007/s11356-017-9991-4.

Antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of two Algerian Mentha species M. rotundifolia (L.) Huds, M. pulegium L., extracted with different solvents.
Brahmi F, Dahmoune F, Kadri N, Chibane M, Dairi S, Remini H, Oukmanou-Bensidhoum S, Mouni L, Madani K.
J Complement Integr Med. 2017 Jul 8;14(4). pii: /j/jcim.2017.14.issue-4/jcim-2016-0064/jcim-2016-0064.xml. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2016-0064.

Antiproliferative activity of flower hexane extract obtained from Mentha spicata associated with Mentha rotundifolia against the MCF7, KB, and NIH/3T3 cell lines.
Nedel F, Begnini K, Carvalho PH, Lund RG, Beira FT, Del Pino FA.
J Med Food. 2012 Nov;15(11):955-8. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2011.0340

The heredity of the essential oil composition in artificial hybrids between Mentha rotundifolia and Mentha longifolia.
Hendriks H, van Os FH.
Planta Med. 1972 Jun;21(4):421-5.

The genus Mentha includes about 40 species, 15 hybrids and hundreds of cultivars of plants of this genus belonging to the Lamiaceae family.

Mentha genus is  divided in:

• Audibertia
• Eriodontes
• Mentha
• Preslia
• Pulegium

Most are perennial sunplants and native to Europe, grown in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.

Mint contain essential oils and is widely used as an aroma in drinks, foods and cigarettes.

From an economic point of view the most important species are:

• Mentha aquatica L.
• Mentha canadensis L.
• Mentha spicata L. (spearmint) and their hybrids ( Mentha - piperita L. peppermint)

The typical flavor of mint is due to menthol, an alcoholic terpene and carvone, a terpene ketone.

Mint leaves are used as tea against digestive disorders, headaches.

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Mentha rotundifolia L. belongs to the Lamiacee family like all types of mint.

It is distinguished by its white and pink flowers arranged like an ear.

Mentha rotundifolia grows in temperate areas and is utilized by the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries.

It is native to Europe, the United States and Canada and is intensively cultivated all over the world for its particular perfume and taste.

It has been utilized by the traditional medicine as antiseptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

In particular, it is utilized in the form of essential oil (extracted by steam distillation from the aerial parts), in which its main components, polyphenols and flavonoids, exert an antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory action.

Extracts of this plant have revealed promising antimicrobial capabilities against bacterial strains of Gram and Gram-7 and based on the results of this study, they present a potential source of natural antioxidants and different bioactive compounds that could be used in green drugs, food preservation, alternative medicine and natural therapies (1).

The antifungal activity of the Mentha rotundifolia has also been established in plant and in vitro experiments (2).

Safety

The use of traditional medicine or DIY presents dangers even with relatively harmless plants and this study shows us the consequences (3).

Mentha rotundifolia studies

References_______________________________

(1) Metabolomic fingerprint of Mentha rotundifolia L. Leaf tissues promotes this species as a potential candidate for sustainable production of biologically active molecules.  Riahi L, Chakroun H, Klay I, Masmoudi AS, Cherif A, Zoghlami N.  J Complement Integr Med. 2018 Oct 17;16(2). pii: /j/jcim.2019.16.issue-2/jcim-2018-0048/jcim-2018-0048.xml. doi: 

(2) Fungicide activity of Thymus mastichina and Mentha rotundifolia in plants in vitro. Leal F, Coelho AC, Soriano T, Alves C, Matos M.  J Med Food. 2013 Apr;16(4):273. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2012.0164.

(3) Phytophotodermatitis due to Mentha rotundifolia].  Benhiba H, Hassam B.  Pan Afr Med J. 2014 Jul 4;18:192. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2014.18.192.4923.