Nutritional value and therapeutic effect of Mentha pulegium L. and Artemisia abrotanum L.

Abstract

This work is an informative study investigated the nutrient contents and the antioxidant activity of Mentha pulegium L. and Artemisia abrotanum L. two plants largely used in North African traditional medicine as well as in pharmaceutical and agro-alimentary industries. These plants have been used as herbal tea, or powder in herbal remedies, to treat painful menstruation, and gastrointestinal disorders. Recently they were extensively used during the pandemic of Covid-19. Results revealed that both plants were not, only, a good source of essential minerals, like Calcium, Iron, and Magnesium. But they were also rich sources of crude fibre and protein. Vitamin C amount was found 180.94 ±3.01 mg/g100g, with an IC50 value 54.45±25.53 μg/mL 10-1 in M. pulegium and 171.64±3.0 mg/100g with IC50 value 60.61± 19.71 μg/mL 10-1 in A. abrotanum. The antioxidant study showed a high activity that paves the way for the possibility of new health-related uses.

In vitro ruminal fermentation, core nutrient, fatty acids and mineral matter of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) herbage at different phenological stages

“…For this plant, Ca, Mg, and S, which are macro minerals, and Fe and Zn, which are micro minerals, decreased with plant growth, but K, P, and Na levels increased. The levels of K, Mg, minerals detected for pennyroyal herbage in the present study, were similar to the results of a previous study (Aziz et al., 2019 ), but Ca and P contents were lower than the results of a previous study (Aziz et al., 2019 ) and Fe and Mn levels were higher than the results of previous study (Aziz et al., 2019 ; Selmi et al., 2022 ). The Ca and Mg contents of pennyroyal herbage were higher than those of Selmi et al.…”

“…The levels of K, Mg, minerals detected for pennyroyal herbage in the present study, were similar to the results of a previous study (Aziz et al, 2019), but Ca and P contents were lower than the results of a previous study (Aziz et al, 2019) and Fe and Mn levels were higher than the results of previous study (Aziz et al, 2019;Selmi et al, 2022). The Ca and Mg contents of pennyroyal herbage were higher than those of Selmi et al (2022). This shows that the addition of the pennyroyal herbage to the ration as forage was a good source of Ca from macro minerals; it could be preferred as a source of Ca in the ration when adjusting the Ca/P ratio, and it was lower than legume and grasses' forages in terms of cationic K mineral (Kara et al, 2018;NRC, 2001).…”

“…The Ca and Mg contents of pennyroyal herbage were higher than those of Selmi et al. ( 2022 ). This shows that the addition of the pennyroyal herbage to the ration as forage was a good source of Ca from macro minerals; it could be preferred as a source of Ca in the ration when adjusting the Ca/P ratio, and it was lower than legume and grasses’ forages in terms of cationic K mineral (Kara et al, 2018 ; NRC, 2001 ).…”

“…However, it has been estimated that the EE content of about 5% and 6% in the vegetative and full flowering stages of the plant, respectively, is due to the fact that this plant is drought tolerant and collects waxy compounds in its leaves to prevent water loss. In another study, it was reported that the pennyroyal plant contains 3.3% oil (Selmi et al., 2022 ). Considering that the cultivated forage plants contain 2%–3% EE (NRC, 2001 ), it shows that pennyroyal plant will be a feedstuff or feed additive with its high oil and high ∑ω−3 and ∑ω−6 fatty acids as a functional rumen modulator (Ebrahimi et al., 2017 ; Fiorentini et al., 2015 ; Roy et al., 2017 ).…”