title: Chemical composition and biological activities of Calamintha officinalis Moench essential oil.
abstract: Calamintha officinalis Moench essential oil is used in cooking as an aromatic herb and also to improve the flavor and fragrance of several pharmaceutical products. The essential oil, obtained by hydrodistillation (5 mL/kg), was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. Sixty-four components were identified, constituting 99.7% of the total oil. The major component was found to be carvone (38.7%), followed by neo-dihydrocarveol (9.9%), dihydrocarveol acetate (7.6%), dihydrocarveol (6.9%), 1,8 cineole (6.4%), cis-carvyl acetate (6.1%), and pulegone (4.1%). The essential oil showed antifungal and antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, it presented a very low toxicity both in vivo (50% lethal dose >100 mg/kg) and in vitro in the Artemia salina test (50% lethal concentration >500 μL/mL). C. officinalis essential oil, in rodents, produces the typical effects in behavior of a nonselective central nervous system-depressant drug; it potentiates the hypnotic effects of sodium pentobarbital, decreasing the induction time and enhancing the sleeping time. Moreover, it produces a decrease in body temperature and a protection against pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaco-Biological Department, School of Pharmacy, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Monforte
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tzakou
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nostro
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zimbalatti
authors.forename: Enza Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Galati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001156:Artemia; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010424:Pentobarbital; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole