Mentha suaveolens extract (EHRH) has antioxidant activity and lack of acute oral toxicity

Abstract

The article discusses the chemical composition and antioxidant pharmacological potential of Mentha suaveolens, also known as apple mint. The plant is a Magnoliopsidea belonging to the Lamiacea family and is native to the Netherlands, Africa, Western and Southern Europe, typically found along the banks of streams, rivers and swamps. The constituent species with the greatest commercial demand found is the monoterpene menthol, which is widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. In this sense, the article aims to determine the influence of the seasons on the chemical composition and pharmacological potential of extracts from M. suaveolens leaves, determining the concentrations of total phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity against Artemia Salina Leach and analysis of acute oral toxicity in Wistar rats. The study collected plant samples during three seasons: summer, spring and autumn. The results demonstrated that a higher concentration of total phenols, flavonoids, greater antioxidant activity and lower toxicity were obtained from the plant harvested in the summer. Therefore, this extract was subjected to in vivo tests, showing no toxicity for the animal's weight, liver weight, and comparative biochemical and hematological parameters. Furthermore, the results indicated the best collection time for plant extracts, when applied specifically from this research. Furthermore, the study revealed important information about the antioxidant potential and safety of ingesting extracts from this plant, at the concentrations tested.