Essential Oil of Myrtus communis L. as a Potential Antioxidant and Antimutagenic Agents

Abstract

The present study describes DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and antimutagenic properties of the essential oil of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.). Plant samples were collected from the two distant localities (southernmost and northern point) of the Montenegro coastline. Chemical profiles of the two samples were evaluated by GC-MS. In both of the samples monoterpenes were found to be the predominant compounds. Among them α-pinene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, and myrtenyl acetate were the major compounds. Significant differences between the samples were found in the ranges of α-pinene (14.7%–35.9%) and myrtenyl acetate (5.4%–21.6%). Both oils exhibited moderate DPPH scavenging activity, with IC50 values of 6.24 mg/mL and 5.99 mg/mL. The antimutagenic properties were assayed against spontaneous and t-BOOH-induced mutagenesis in Escherichia coli oxyR mutant IC202, a bacterial strain deficient in removing ROS. Reduction of the spontaneous mutagenesis in presence of myrtle EO was only slight, up to 13% at the highest concentration tested. When the oxidative mutagen was used, EO expressed higher reduction of mutagenesis, in a concentration dependent manner, with statistical significance for effect at the highest concentration tested (28%). Suppression of t-BOOH induced mutagenesis was correlated with the observed scavenging activity.

Phenolic profile, antibacterial, antimutagenic and antitumour evaluation of Veronica urticifolia Jacq.

“…Lesions to DNA resulting from attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be a major cause of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis (Mimica-Dukić et al, 2010). Therefore, antioxidants may act as universal antimutagenic agents (Ananthi et al, 2010).…”

Composition of the essential oil of leaves and berries of Algerian myrtle (Myrtus communisL.)

“…It is traditionally used as an antiseptic, disinfectant and hypoglycemic agent (3). According to the literature, myrtle essential oils are endowed with antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and antimutagenic properties (4)(5)(6)(7)(8). The chemical composition of myrtle essential oil has been extensively studied in different countries (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

Chemical Characterization, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils of <i>Mentha viridis</i> L. and <i>Mentha pulegium</i> L. (L)

“…One of the effects posed by these bad habits is the oxidative stress that can cause various biochemical alterations, and consequently serious disorders in the human body. Oxidative stress can result in damage to the basic biomolecules such as lipids, proteins and DNA and can promote cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in cells [5].…”