RADICAL SCAVENGING AND DISINFECTANT EFFECT OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM MOROCCAN MENTHA PULEGIUM

Abstract

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>As part of the valorization of medicinal and aromatic plants in Morocco, this study aims to investigate the chemical composition, the antimicrobial and the antioxidant activities of <em>Mentha pulegium </em>essential oil.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Essential oil of <em>M. pulegium </em>from Oued Laou region (Morocco) was screened for its antimicrobial activity against seven bacteria and two fungi using broth microdilution method. The radical scavenging effect was used to assess <em>in vitro </em>antioxidant capacity of this oil.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The tested essential oil exhibited strong inhibitory effect against all tested microorganisms with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.003% to 1% (v/v) except for <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>. Moreover, the studied essential oil exhibited radical scavenging power with the half maximal inhibitory concentration of 2 mg/ml.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings showed that the studied essential oil has both an antimicrobial and antioxidant potential, which is very rare. Thus, it reinforces its use as an effective, eco-friendly preservative agent in food and cosmetic field.</p><p> </p>