Cytotoxic and Anti-oxidant Activity of Petroleum Ether Fraction of Mentha ArvensisLeaf Extract

Abstract

The plant Mentha arvensis has been used for the general promotion of health and longevity by Asian tribal. It is used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases like asthma, piles, diarrhea etc. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity activity, and antioxidant activity of pet-ether extract of Mentha arvensis. The powdered leaves of Mentha arvensis were extracted with methanol and then partitioned with pet-ether, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane consecutively. The pet-ether fraction was used to evaluate cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities. The cytoxic activity was measured by brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Pet-ether fraction showed cytotoxic activity with LC50 value 17.79μg/ml in brine shrimp lethality test. The fraction contained 12.315mgAAE/g of total phenolic content and 56mg AAE/g total flavonoid content and 27.5mg AAE/g total reducing power content. The results of study clearly indicate the presence of cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties of pet-ether extract. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation.