Antifungal and antioxidant activity of Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson (Lamiaceae) essential oil

ABSTRACT: Th e present study describes the antifungal and antioxidant activity of Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson essential oil. Th is plant is native to Europe, Central Asia and Australia. It is used as carminative, stomachic and stimulant and also in aromatherapy. Th e essential oil profi le was determined by GC and GC-MS. Th e main compounds in the oil were trans-dihydrocarvone (23.64%), piperitone (17.33%) and cis-dihydrocarvone (15.68%). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) were recorded using the microdilution method. Commercial antimicotic bifonazol was used as a control. Th e concentration of 10 μl/ml showed fungicidal activity against Aspergillus and Fusarium species, Penicillium funiculosum and Trichoderma viride. Concentration of 5 μl/ml was effi cient against Trichophyton menthagrophytes and yeast Candida albicans. Th e most sensitive micromycetes were Cladosporium fulvum, C. cladosporium cladosporioides and Penicillium ochrochloron where concentration of 2.5 μl/ml was lethal. Th e antioxidant activity of essential oil was evaluated by means of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging method. Th e essential oil of M. longifolia was able to reduce DPPH radicals into the DPPH-H form, and this activity was dose-dependent. Th e oil exhibited signifi cant potential for antioxidant activity, and reduced DPPH to 50 % (IC50=0,659 ml/ml of solution)