title: Antioxidant properties and composition of aqueous extracts from Mentha species, hybrids, varieties, and cultivars.
abstract: Water-soluble extracts from the Mentha species M. aquatica L. and M. haplocalyx Briq., the hybrids M. x dalmatica L. and M. x verticillata L., the varieties M. arvensis var. japanensis [M. arvensis L. var. piperascens Holmes ex Christ] and M. spicata L. var. crispa Benth, and M. x piperita L. "Frantsila", M. "Morocco", and M. "Native Wilmet" cultivars were screened for potential antioxidative properties. These properties included iron(III) reduction, iron(II) chelation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, and the ability to inhibit iron(III)-ascorbate-catalyzed hydroxyl radical-mediated brain phospholipid peroxidation. Total phenol content and qualitative and quantitative compositional analyses of each extract were also made. The extracts demonstrated varying degrees of efficacy in each assay, with the M. x piperita "Frantsila" extract being better than the other extracts, except for ferrous iron chelation. With the exception of iron chelation, it appeared that the level of activity identified was strongly associated with the phenolic content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacognosy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 5E), FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. damien.dorman@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: H J Damien
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dorman
authors.forename: Müberra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koşar
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kahlos
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Raimo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D027541:Mentha / Q000737:chemistry*; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl