Molecular fingerprinting of peppermint (Mentha piperita) and some Mentha hybrids by sequencing and RFLP analysis of the 5S rRNA Non-Transcribed Spacer (NTS) region

Hybridization of species belonging to the genus Mentha is quite common. However, the indicators of hybridity are many and make Mentha hybrids' identification difficult. By using the same molecular strategy that allowed us to unequivocally identify some Mentha species, we amplified the Not-Transcribed-Spacer (NTS) of the 5S-rRNA gene to characterize the industrial crop peppermint, M. × piperita and some important Mentha interspecific hybrids: M. × dalmatica, M. × dumetorum, M. × rotundifolia, M. × maximilianea, M. × smithiana, M. × verticillata, M. × villosa. DNA amplification, sequence and cluster analysis revealed differences in the 5S-rRNA NTS region of Mentha hybrids. Peppermint and all other hybrids were unequivocally discriminated by RFLP analysis by using TaqI restriction enzyme, while a further discrimination between M. × dumetorum and M. × verticillata was obtained by XhoI restriction enzyme. Essential oil composition showed clustering patterns similar to DNA fingerprint, with a clear discrimination between plants producing menthofuran (e.g. M. aquatica and its related hybrids, including peppermint) and those containing piperitenone oxide (M. longifolia and its related hybrids).     

Comparative Study of Chemical Composition,Cholinesterase Inhibition and Antioxidant Potential of Mentha pulegium L. Essential Oil

Perennial plant Mentha pulegium L. (pennyroyal, Lamiaceae) can be found in Europe and Mediterranean. In areas where it thrives, M. pulegium is used in nutrition and as medicinal plant. Essential oil of M. pulegium is also a frequent constituent of foods and fragrances, because of mint-like odor. Regarding the use of M. pulegium in traditional medicine and nutrition, as well as fact that essential oils are potential sources of bioactive components, this study was conducted to examine the chemical composition of essential oil of M. pulegium wild growing in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its biological activity. The chemical profile testing was made using GC/MS and GC/FID technique. Potential of cholinesterase inhibition was tested by Ellman's assay. The antioxidant activity was tested by DPPH and FRAP assay. The dominant components in analyzed oil were pulegone 54.4 %, p-menthone 14.0 % and piperitenone 12.8 %. Good antioxidant activity and moderate cholinesterase inhibition potential of tested essential oil indicates to possibility of its use in treatment of diseases related to free radicals, Alzheimer disease and as lipid protecting antioxidant.     

Contact Toxicity and Repellency of the Essential Oil from Mentha haplocalyx Briq. against Lasioderma serricorne

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Mentha haplocalyx was investigated by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. In sum, 23 components, representing 92.88% of the total oil composition, were identified, and the main compounds were found to be menthol (59.71%), menthyl acetate (7.83%), limonene (6.98%), and menthone (4.44%). By bioassay‐guided fractionation (contact toxicity), three compounds were obtained from the essential oil and identified as menthol, menthyl acetate, and limonene. The essential oil and the three isolated compounds exhibited potent contact toxicity against Lasioderma serricorne adults, with LD₅₀ values of 16.5, 7.91, 5.96, and 13.7 μg/adult, respectively. Moreover, the oil and its isolated compounds also exhibited strong repellency against L. serricorne adults. At the lower concentrations tested and at 2 h after exposure, menthol showed even significantly stronger repellency than the positive control DEET. The study revealed that the bioactivity properties of the essential oil can be attributed to the synergistic effects of its diverse major and minor components, which indicates that the M. haplocalyx oil and its isolated compounds have potential for the development as natural insecticides and/or repellents to control insects in stored grains and traditional Chinese medicinal materials.     

不同地区野生薄荷挥发油的比较

本文采用顶空气相色谱法对广西、云南、河北、江苏四个地区的薄荷(Mentha haplocalyx Briq.)精油的成分进行分析比较。共检测了84种化学成分,多以烯、醇及酮类物质组成。江苏样品主要由蒎稀(11.10%)、d-柠檬稀(42.30%)和胡薄荷酮(25.50%)组成;广西样品主要有香芹酮(25.46%)、d-柠檬稀(28.75%)和桉油素(14.91%)组成;云南和河北在主要成分上相似,云南样品主要有蒎稀(22%)、d-柠檬稀(18.45%)和桉油素(16.96%)组成;河北样品主要由蒎稀(23%)和d-柠檬稀(33.33%)和桉油素(12.45%)组成。研究发现不同地区薄荷精油的组成受环境影响较大,江苏薄荷胡薄荷酮含量较高,广西薄荷含香芹酮较高,云南和河北主要成分相似,组成比例不同。     

A comparison of arsenic mobility in Phaseolus vulgaris, Mentha aquatica, and Pteris cretica rhizosphere

The ability of Phaseolus vulgaris, Mentha aquatica, and Pteris cretica to release arsenic (As) species from contaminated soil was tested in rhizobox experiments in three soils differing in their physicochemical parameters and total and mobile As concentration. Relatively low uptake of arsenic by P. vulgaris and M. aquatica resulted in very low and ambiguous changes in rhizosphere soil compared to bulk soil. However, there were observed differences in the distribution of the mobile As portion in soil to individual As species as affected by plant species and/or plantation conditions of these plants. Higher percentage of mobile arsenite in mint rhizosphere seems to be related to more reducing conditions during cultivation of these wetland plants. P. cretica planted in the soils containing between 36 and 1436 mg As kg⁻¹ was able to accumulate between 80 and 500 mg As kg⁻¹ in aboveground biomass. The extractable concentrations of As compounds in rhizosphere soil of P. cretica showed a clear depletion of arsenate (representing more than 90% of extractable arsenic) with the distance from plant roots. However, the As uptake mechanisms, as well as As transformation within hyperaccumulating fern plants, differ substantially from those in higher plants. Therefore the finding of suitable higher plant tolerant to the As soil contamination with good ability to accumulate As in aboveground biomass remains for the further research.     

Exogenous application of penconazole regulates plant growth and antioxidative responses in salt-stressed Mentha pulegium L.

The mechanism of growth amelioration in salt-stressed pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) was investigated by exogenous application of penconazole (PEN). Seven weeks after sowing, seedlings were treated with increasing NaCl concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 75 mM) with or without PEN (15 mg l^?1) and were harvested randomly at different times. Results showed that some growth parameters and the relative water content (RWC) decreased under salt stress, while lipid peroxidation, H₂O₂ content, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (POX; EC 1.11.1.7), polyphenol oxidase (PPO; EC 1.10.3.1), catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 1.11.1.1) remarkably increased. Exogenous application of PEN increased some growth parameters, RWC, antioxidant enzyme activities, and H₂O₂ content, but the effects of PEN were more significant under salt stress conditions. PEN treatment also decreased lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that PEN-induced tolerance to salt stress in M. pulegium plants may be related to regulation of antioxidative responses and H₂O₂ level.     

Toxic and deterrent effects of two volatile oils against cowpea weevil,Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

The fumigant effect of Mentha piperita and Ocimum basilicum oils and their mixture against adults and eggs of Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) was evaluated. Bioassay experiments showed that Ocimum basilicum oil was significantly effective against adult and egg stage which was the least effective. However, in the fumigant toxicity experiments against adult stage, Ocimum basilicum oil at a dose of 1.0 μl/38.5 ml air caused 100% mortality (LC₅₀ = 1.88), the mixture of both oils at a dose of 6.0 μl/38.5 ml air caused 100% mortality (LC₅₀ = 10.3) and Mentha piperita oil at a dose of 80.0 μl/38.5 ml air caused 80.0% mortality (LC₅₀ = 41.224) during a one day exposure period. Regarding the oviposition deterrent activity, Ocimum basilicum oil achieved 100% oviposition deterrent (at a dose of 0.5 μl/38.5 ml air) followed by the mixture of Mentha piperita and Ocimum basilicum oils, which achieved 71.22% oviposition deterrent (at a dose of 1.0 μl/38.5 ml air) and Mentha piperita oil, which achieved 39.6% oviposition deterrent (at a dose of 5.0 μl/38.5 ml air). The essential oils and their mixtures studied here determined a significant decrease in the number of eggs hatched and in the emergence of adults. The eggs failed to hatch on using Ocimum basilicum oil at a dose of 0.6 μl/38.5 ml air. However, the number of eggs hatched decreased to 7.4 on using a mixture of oils at a dose of 2.0 μl/38.5 ml air and 14.0 with Mentha piperita oil at a dose of 80.0 μl/38.5 ml air compared with 25.0 eggs hatched in the control experiments. On the other hand, the percentage reduction in emerging adults were 100% for Ocimum basilicum oil, 90.9% for a mixture of the two oils and 72.7% for Mentha piperita oil. Results showed that Ocimum basilicum oil and Ocimum basilicum oils plus Mentha piperita oils in blend are potential alternatives to synthetic fumigants in the treatment of durable agricultural products. Successful adoption of plant oils in the protection of food commodities promises an eco-friendly option compatible with international biosafety regulations.     

留兰香组织培养及快速繁殖条件的优化

以留兰香(Menthaspicata L.)茎尖为实验材料,对外植体消毒、不定芽增殖和试管苗移栽生根的最佳条件进行研究。结果表明,最佳外植体消毒方法为:用体积分数75%乙醇浸泡30s,再用1.0g·L-1HgCl2浸泡10min,培养7d后外植体生长状况良好。正交实验结果表明,在附加0.2mg·L-16-BA和0.02mg·L-1NAA的MS培养基中,留兰香不定芽的增殖倍数最高,试管苗生长状况最好。在含25mg·L-16-BA和50mg·L-1NAA的混合溶液中浸泡1h,移栽试管苗的生根率可达100%,且根较长。     

皱叶留兰香迁地栽培后的营养成分及抗性指标测定

皱叶留兰香 (ＭｅｎｔｈａｃｒｉｓｐａｔｅＳｃｈｒａｄ .ｅｘＷｉｌｌｄ .)为唇形科薄荷属 (ＭｅｎｔｈａＬ .)多年生宿根草本植物 ,原分布于地中海沿岸 ,我国云南及贵州等地也有分布。皱叶留兰香及薄荷属某些种类 ,在民间被广泛药用和食用。具有疏风散热、辟秽解毒之功效 ,常用于外感风热、头痛、目赤、食滞气胀、口疮、牙痛等症[1 ] ,现代研究表明薄荷属植物还具有抗病毒、杀菌、抗刺激、利胆[2 ] 及放疗区域皮肤保护[3] 等作用。食用则具有清凉芳香的口味特点 ,在我国西南地区已经成为普通蔬菜 ,广泛用于调料、生食和火锅等。作者对皱…     

薄荷化学成分及其药理作用研究进展

对国内外有关薄荷的化学成分和药理作用的研究进行了综述,为进一步研究和开发利用薄荷提供了依据。