Chemical Composition and<i>In Vitro</i>Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial, and Larvicidal Activities of the Essential Oil of<i>Mentha piperita</i>L. (Lamiaceae)

Abstract

The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and the identification and quantification of components were achieved with the use of GC-MS analysis. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the method of sequestration of DPPH. Essential oils were used for study the cytotoxic front larvae of <i>Artemia salina</i>. In the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of essential oils, we employed the disk-diffusion method. The potential larvicide in mosquito larvae of the third stage of development of <i>Aedes aegypti</i> to different concentrations of essential oils was evaluated. The major compounds found in the essential oils of <i>M. piperita</i> were linalool (51.8%) and epoxyocimene (19.3%). The percentage of antioxidant activity was 79.9 ± 1.6%. The essential oil showed LC₅₀ = 414.6 <i>μ</i>g/mL front of <i>A. saline</i> and is considered highly toxic. It shows sensitivity and halos significant inhibition against <i>E. coli</i>. The essential possessed partial larvicidal efficiency against <i>A. aegypti</i>.