Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: April-June | Volume: 8 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 499-504
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20230266
Efficacy Determination of Antimicrobial Properties in Mentha piperita Plant Extracts
Gad Onywere1, Roshena Stewart2, San-Jay Reid2, Jaysaree Osbourne2, Dana Jackson2
1Department of General Education, Math and Science, 2Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science
1Hong Kong Adventist College, Clear Water Bay Road, Sai Kung, N.T., Hong Kong SAR
2Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Jamaica, W.I.
Corresponding Author: Gad Onywere
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is an herbaceous rhizomatous perennial plant that grows up to thirty-five inches tall, with smooth stems and square in cross-section. It is an aromatic herb that is used for health purposes, fragrances, and cosmetics. The study aimed to extract aqueous and non-aqueous plant extracts from Mentha piperita, determine the efficacy of these plant extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli pathogens and compare the antimicrobial potency of the plant extracts.
Materials and Methods: The aqueous and non-aqueous plant extracts were subjected to the extraction process using solvent systems such as distilled water and methanol in the maceration technique. The crude extracts were obtained and further subjected for sample preparation using different concentrations of 20%, 40% and 50% respectively. Antibacterial activity assay was done to determine the sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using the concentrations.
Result: The peppermint aqueous and non-aqueous extracts showed the presence of antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus pathogens. The aqueous plant extracts had large and more distinct zones of inhibition between 15-20 mm for Staphylococcus aureus. The Escherichia coli pathogens showed resistance to all plant extracts.
Discussion: Based on the findings of the study, Mentha piperita plant extracts showed potential for antimicrobial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and not Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activity in the plant was attributed to the presence of polar and non-polar compounds in the plant. These compounds inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and not Escherichia coli. The extracts penetrated through the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus inhibiting the growth of the pathogens.
Conclusion: Thus, the aqueous and non-aqueous plants extracts were more effective on Staphylococcus aureus pathogens than on Escherichia coli pathogens. Therefore, it was concluded that future work to focus on in vivo assays to be done for the establishment of right dosage development that could be used as a remedy for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections.
Keywords: Mentha piperita, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aqueous and Non-aqueous Extracts, Zones of inhibition, Microbiota, Diffusion