GC-MS Analysis, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Mentha spicata

Aims: Mentha spicata medicinal properties are well known. In this study, Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Mentha spicata were determined as well as evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of it. Also, the identification of some bioactive compounds in the plant was analysed.

Place and Duration of Study: Extraction and antioxidant at Medicinal Chemistry Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, cytotoxic evaluation and GC-Ms analysis at Al-Azhar University, Egypt.

Methodology: The antioxidant activity was determined by two methods, DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2-2՝azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) while, the cytotoxic assay was determined by MTT assay on HepG-2 (Human hepatocellular carcinoma) and MTC-116 (Human colon carcinoma). Regarding to the chemical identification of methanol extract was carried out by GC-MS analysis.

Results: The study proved that Mentha spicata has high Total phenolic and flavonoid contents (388.20±2.38mg GAE/gm of extract &204.01±17.93mg RE/gm of extract) respectively. Also, exhibited promising antioxidant activity by DPPH & ABTS (IC50=65.13±1.29 µg/ml & 52.31±0.81 µg/ml) respectively. The methanol extract of the plant showed a good cytotoxic effect on HepG2 and HTC-116 (IC50=25.2±3.6µg/ml & 62.1±4.9µg/ml) respectively. GC-MS analysis of the methanol extract of Mentha spicata showed 43 oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds. The major ones are Hexadecanoic acid, methylEster (palmitic acid ester) (31.51%) followed by 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid,methyl ester (CAS)(methyl linolenate) (22.10%), 2-Pentadecanone,6,10,14-trimethyl- (CAS)(6.82%), Phytol (6.20%), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid(Z,Z)-, methyl ester (6.18%), Hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid ) (5.95%) and Methyl stearate (4.49%).

Conclusion: Mentha spicata is a potential antioxidant and anticancer agents.