Antifungal activity and chemical composition of Mentha cervina L. essential oils

Abstract

Mentha cervina L. is a very aromatic plant with a characteristic flavour, which can be found on some regions from central eastern and south of Portugal. In the present paper, we analysed the chemical composition of essential oils from fresh and dried leaves of M. cervina and its antifungal activity against strains of Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. and Fusarium oxysporum isolated from soils. M. cervina was collected in Almaceda – Vila Velha de Rodao, Central Eastern of Portugal during the flowering period. Yellowish essential oils were obtained in a yield 1.1% and 1.8% (v/w) to fresh and dry plant, respectively. Major component of the oils was identified as pulegone (78.0 and 80.4%). Both essential oils of M. cervina at the doses of 10µL, inhibited totally the growth of the tested fungi. Doses of 5µL of each essential oil also showed activity against the fungi strains used in this work, in particular against Penicillium sp. Taking into account the high level of pulegone observed in both essential oils and the antimicrobial activity of this compound reported by Duru [1], these results may suggest that this compound could be the main responsible component for the antifungal activity observed. References: 1. Duru M E, Ozturk M, Ugar A, Ceylan O (2004)J Ethnopharmacol 94: 43–48.