The p-menthane monoterpenes of the Mentha species are biosynthesized from geranyl pyrophosphate via the monocyclic olefin 4S-limonene. A monoterpene cyclase was isolated from both Mentha x piperita (peppermint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint) that catalyzes the cyclization of geranyl pyrophosphate to 4S-limonene. This enzyme, 4S-limonene synthase, was purified to apparent homogeneity by dye liga...

INTRODUCTION Many essential oils have been advocated for use in complementary medicine for bacterial and fungal infections. However, few of the many claims of therapeutic efficacy have been validated adequately by either in vitro testing or in vivo clinical trials. OBJECTIVE To study the antibacterial activity of nine commercially available essential oils against Streptococcus mutans in vitro...

Herbal infusions and decoctions in water are some of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world. Although water is not a good solvent for many of the active components in herbs, liquid preparations are rich in several bioactive compounds. Most of them have powerful antioxidant activity and have been related to medicinal herbs' properties. Herein, decoctions and infusions in water of lemo...

Chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-Vibrio spp. activities of the essential oil isolated from the aerial parts of Mentha spicata L. (spearmint) are investigated in the present study. The effect of the essential oil on Vibrio spp. biofilm inhibition and eradication was tested using the XTT assay. A total of 63 chemical constituents were identified in spearmint oil using GC/MS, constitutin...

Rice is the most important durable food product for more than half of world’s population, as it very nutritious in terms carbohydrate containment and can meet a large part human caloric needs on daily basis. The sensitivity rice fortified with spearmint or basil was evaluated three stored insect species: Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) Bostrychidae)...

Intensive crop production and irrational use of fertilizers agrochemicals have questionable effects on the quality products sustainable water for agricultural purposes. Organic cultivation and/or deficit irrigation are, among others, well appreciated practices a system. In present study, spearmint plants (Mentha spicata L.) were grown in different schemes (conventional versus organic cultivatio...

anti-androgens are an assorted group of drugs and compounds that reduce the levels or activity of androgen hormones within the human body. disease states in which this is relevant include polycystic ovarian syndrome, hirsutism, acne, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and endocrine related cancers such as carcinoma of the prostate. we provide an overview and discussion of the use of anti-androgen me...

background & aim: lamiaceae is one of the most important families of plants with global transmittal. the family is divided to two major groups: lamioideae and nepetoideae. mentha l. genus has high genetic variation because of different ploidy levels and interspecific interspecific hybridization thus that is possible to select genotypes with excelsior traits as essence content. the genus inc...

Chewing gum increases salivary flow rate (SFR) and pH, but differences in preferences of gum flavor may influence SFR and pH. The aim of this paper was to assess the effect of five different flavors of sucrose-free chewing gum on the salivary flow rate and pH in healthy dental students in Isfahan, Iran. Fifteen (7 men and 8 women) healthy dental student volunteers collected unstimulated saliva ...