Affiliation:
1. Department of Ecology and Environment Laboratory of Vegetal Ecology and Environment Faculty of Biological Sciences Houari Boumediene University of Sciences and Technology (USTHB), El Alia, BP 32 Bab Ezzouar 16111 Algiers Algeria
2. Department of Chemistry Laboratory of Electrochemistry-Corrosion Metallurgy and Mineral Chemistry Faculty of Chemistry Houari Boumediene University of Sciences and Technology (USTHB), El Alia, BP 32 Bab Ezzouar 16111 Algiers Algeria
Abstract
AbstractThe present paper highlights the effect of Pb/Cd‐stress and/or mycorrhizal colonization by Glomus Intraradices on yield, chemical composition, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of Mentha x piperita L. essential oil. Our findings showed that mycorrhizal colonization could be used to improve the essential oil yield of M. x piperita, either in non‐stressed or Pb/Cd‐stressed plants. GC–MS analysis revealed three chemotypes: linalool/pulegone (32.6/30.8 %) chemotype in essential oils of non‐mycorrhizal Pb‐stressed plants, menthone/menthyl acetate (30.3/25.1 %) chemotype in essential oils of non‐mycorrhizal Cd‐stressed plants and menthol (44.6 %) chemotype in essential oils of non‐mycorrhizal non‐stressed plants, mycorrhizal non‐stressed plants and mycorrhizal Pb/Cd‐stressed plants. The cytotoxicity of M. x piperita essential oil, evaluated by brine shrimp lethality bioassay, was increased in presence of Pb/Cd‐stress (from 379.58 to 72.84 μm/mL) and decreased in mycorrhizal plants (from 379.58 to 482.32 μm/mL). The antimicrobial activity of M. x piperita essential oil, evaluated by disc diffusion method and determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration against ten microorganisms, was enhanced by the mycorrhizal colonization and deceased by the Pb/Cd‐stress. In conclusion, the inoculation of medicinal plants with mycorrhizal fungi is a real avenue for alleviating abiotic stress and/or increasing the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites in terms of biological activities.