Review Article

Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Mentha spicata

Table 4

Antibacterial activity of Mentha spicata.

Parts usedExtractsMethods usedStrains testedKey resultsReferences

LeavesEssential oilsBroth microdilution methodStaphylococcus aureus (ATCC 14458)MIC = 3.2 μL/mL[6]
Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228)MIC = 1.6 μL/mL
Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11778)MIC = 1.6 μL/mL
Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 7644)MIC = 3.2 μL/mL
Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229)MIC = 3.2 μL/mL
Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar typhimurium (ATCC 13311)MIC = 1.6 μL/mL
Salmonella. enterica subsp. enterica serovar typhi (ATCC 19214)MIC = 1.6 μL/mL
Shigella flexneri (ATCC 12022)MIC = 3.2 μL/mL

Aerial partsEssential oilsDisc diffusion assayP. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853)No inhibition[7]
Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922)Ф = 9 mm
Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923)Ф = 11 mm
Staphylococcus epidermidisФ = 10 mm
Streptococcus pneumoniaeФ = 13 mm
Streptococcus pyogenesФ = 16 mm
Klebsiella pneumoniaeФ = 8 mm
Salmonella typhiФ = 8 mm
Shigella sonneiФ = 9 mm

LeavesEthanol extractDisc diffusion assaySalmonella paratyphiФ = 17.00 ± 2.00 mm[74]
Shigella boydiiФ = 31.67 ± 1.53 mm
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 23.00 ± 1.00 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 9.00 ± 1.00 mm
Vibrio choleraeФ = 12.00 ± 1.00 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaTrace activity
Enterococcus faecalisNo activity
Salmonella typhiTrace activity
Proteus vulgarisNo activity
Klebsiella pneumoniaeNo activity

LeavesHexane fractionDisc diffusion assaySalmonella paratyphiФ = 25.67 ± 2.08 mm[74]
Shigella boydiiФ = 36.00 ± 1.00 mm
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 22.33 ± 1.53 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 10.67 ± 2.52 mm
Vibrio choleraeФ = 18.67 ± 0.58 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaTrace activity
Enterococcus faecalisNo activity
Salmonella typhiNo activity
Proteus vulgarisNo activity
Klebsiella pneumoniaeNo activity

LeavesChloroformDisc diffusion assaySalmonella paratyphiФ = 22.67 ± 2.52 mm[74]
Shigella boydiiФ = 34.00 ± 1.00 mm
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 24.00 ± 1.00 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 18.67 ± 1.53 mm
Vibrio choleraeФ = 16.00 ± 1.00 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaФ = 12.33 ± 1.53 mm
Enterococcus faecalisФ = 8.33 ± 0.58 mm
Salmonella typhiNo activity
Proteus vulgarisNo activity
Klebsiella pneumoniaeNo activity

LeavesEthyl acetate fractionDisc diffusion assaySalmonella paratyphiФ = 20.67 ± 1.53 mm[74]
Shigella boydiiФ = 32.67 ± 2.52 mm
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 25.33 ± 0.58 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 18.33 ± 1.53 mm
Vibrio choleraeФ = 17.33 ± 1.53 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaФ = 8.00 ± 1.00 mm
Enterococcus faecalisNo activity
Salmonella typhiNo activity
Proteus vulgarisNo activity
Klebsiella pneumoniaeNo activity

LeavesAqueous fractionDisc diffusion assaySalmonella paratyphiФ = 22.33 ± 2.52 mm[74]
Shigella boydiiФ = 36.00 ± 1.00 mm
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 31.00 ± 1.00 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 21.00 ± 1.00 mm
Vibrio choleraeФ = 20.33 ± 0.58 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaФ = 10.00 ± 1.00 mm
Enterococcus faecalisNo activity
Salmonella typhiTrace activity
Proteus vulgarisNo activity
Klebsiella pneumoniaeNo activity

Aerial partsEssential oilMicrodilution methodStaphylococcus epidermidisMIC = 32 μg/mL[48]
Escherichia coliMIC = 64 μg/mL

Aerial partsVolatile oilDisk diffusion methodXanthomonas spp. ZI378Ф = 14 mm[64]
Xanthomonas spp. ZI376Ф = 14 mm
Xanthomonas spp. ZI375Ф = 13 mm
Xanthomonas spp. ZI373Ф = 13 mm
Xanthomonas spp. ZI370Ф = 13 mm
Xanthomonas spp. ZI368Ф = 13 mm
Xanthomonas spp. ZI366Ф = 12 mm
Xanthomonas spp. ZI365Ф = 16 mm

LeavesEssential oilAgar disc diffusion method
Microbroth dilution
Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213)Ф = 19 ± 1.73 mm[75]
MIC = 1.25 μg/mL
MBC = 1.25 μg/mL
Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922)Ф = 13.66 ± 1.1 mm
MIC = 1.25 μg/mL
MBC = 2.5 μg/mL
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853)Ф = 9.5 ± 0.70 mm
MIC > 10
MBC > 10

LeavesEssential oilDisc methodMRSA (ATCC 43300)Ф = 24.0 ± 1.0 mm[65]
Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633)Ф = 17.7 ± 0.6 mm
Staphylococcus aureus (NCC B9163)Ф = 14.3 ± 1.5 mm
Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922)Ф = 11.0 ± 1.0 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853)Ф = 6.0 ± 0.0 mm
Klebsiella pneumonia E47Ф = 10.3 ± 0.6 mm

LeavesEssential oilSpots methodMRSA (ATCC 43300)Ф = 22.3 ± 1.5 mm[65]
Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633)Ф = 32.7 ± 0.6 mm
Staphylococcus aureus (NCC B9163)Ф = 20.3 ± 0.6 mm
Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922)Ф = 22.0 ± 1.0 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853)Ф = 6.0 ± 0.0 mm
Klebsiella pneumonia (E47)Ф = 17.3 ± 0.6 mm

Aerial partsEssential oilDisc diffusion methodEscherichia coliФ = 14 ± 0.6 mm[76]
Salmonella enterica subsp. entericaФ = 10 ± 0.8 mm
Pasteurella multocidaФ = 12 ± 1.0 mm
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 9 ± 1.1 mm

Essential oilsDisc diffusion assay
Microwell dilution assay
Escherichia coli (O157H7)Ф = 10 mm[77]
MIC = 2.26 ± 0.11 μg/mL
MBC = 3.66 ± 0.11 μg/mL
Listeria monocytogenesФ = 11 mm
MIC = 1.33 ± 0.11 μg/mL
MBC = not observed

LeavesEssential oilsDisc diffusion technique
Checker board technique
Staphylococcus aureus 29737Ф = 10.0 mm[78]
MIC = 10 μg/mL
Staphylococcus aureus ML 267Ф = 10.0 mm
MIC = 10 μg/mL
Suillus luteus 9341Ф = 11.0 mm
MIC = 5 μg/mL
Bacillus pumilus 8241Ф = 10.0 mm
MIC = 10 μg/mL
Bacillus subtilis (ATCC)Ф = 11.0 mm
MIC = 10 μg/mL
Escherichia coli (ATCC 10536)Ф = 9.0 mm
MIC = 50 μg/mL
Escherichia coli VC Sonawave 3 : 37 CФ = 9.0 mm
MIC = 50 μg/mL
Escherichia coli (CD/99/1)Ф = 9.5 mm
MIC = 50 μg/mL
Escherichia coli (RP4)Ф = 9.0 mm
MIC = 25 μg/mL
Escherichia coli (18/9)Ф = 9.0 mm
MIC = 25 μg/mL
Escherichia coli (K88)Ф = 8.5 mm
MIC = 25 μg/mL
Shigella dysenteriae L.Ф = 10.0 mm
MIC = 10 μg/mL
Shigella sonnei 1Ф = 10.0 mm
MIC = 10 μg/mL
Shigella sonnei BCH 217Ф = 12.0 mm
MIC = 5 μg/mL
Shigella flexneri type 6Ф = 9.0 mm
MIC = 10 μg/mL
Shigella boydii 937Ф = 9.5 mm
MIC = 10 μg/mL
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 25619)Ф = 11.0 mm
MIC = 10 μg/mL
Vibrio cholerae 2Ф = 10.0 mm
MIC = 50 μg/mL
Vibrio cholerae 785Ф = 10.0 mm
MIC = 50 μg/mL
Vibrio cholerae 1037Ф = 9.0 mm
MIC = 50 μg/mL

LeavesEssential oilsAgar well diffusion method
Dilution method
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 17 ± 0.01 mm[79]
MIC = 0.4 ± 0.01 μg/mL
Escherichia coliФ = 14 ± 0.01 mm
MIC = 0.5 ± 0.02 μg/mL
Erwinia carotovoraФ = 14 ± 0.01 mm
MIC = 0.5 ± 0.02 μg/mL
Bacillus subtilisФ = 17 ± 0.01 mm
MIC = 0.6 ± 0.01 μg/mL
Xanthomonas campestrisФ = 22 ± 0.01 mm
MIC = 0.5 ± 0.02 μg/mL
Klebsiella pneumoniaeФ = 20 ± 0.01 mm
MIC = 0.4 ± 0.01 μg/mL
LeavesEssential oilsDiffusion methodBacillus subtilisФ = 11.5 ± 0.61 mm[80]
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 13 ± 1.52 mm
Staphylococcus epidermidisФ = 11.2 ± 1.61 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 21 ± 0.90 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaФ = 16 ± 1.9 mm
Salmonella enterica subsp.Ф = 18 ± 1.33 mm

Aerial partsEssential oilsDisc diffusion method
Microdilution broth assay
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 26.0 ± 1.1 mm[5]
MIC = 0.07 ± 0.00 μg/mL
Bacillus subtilisФ = 27.1 ± 1.1 mm
MIC = 0.05 ± 0.00 μg/mL
Pasteurella multocidaФ = 24.3 ± 0.9 mm
MIC = 0.12 ± 0.01 μg/mL
Escherichia coliФ = 20.3 ± 0.9 mm
MIC = 0.21 ± 0.01 μg/mL

Whole plantEssential oilsDisc diffusion methodEscherichia coliMIC = 1/250 (V/V)[81]
MBC = 1/250 (V/V)

Not reportedEssential oilDisc diffusion methodEscherichia coliMIC = 1.56 μg/mL[11]
MBC = 25 μg/mL
Staphylococcus aureusMIC = 25 μg/mL
MBC = 50 μg/mL
Saccharomyces cerevisiaeMIC = 0.78 μg/mL
MBC = 6.25 μg/mL
Penicillium citrinumMIC = 3.12 μg/mL
MBC = 12.50 μg/mL

LeavesHexaneAgar well diffusion techniquesPseudomonas aeruginosaФ = 15 mm[63]
Bacillus subtilisФ = 10 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 25 mm
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 26 mm

LeavesPetroleum etherAgar well diffusion techniquesPseudomonas aeruginosaФ = 17 mm[63]
Bacillus subtilisФ = 12 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 26 mm
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 27 mm

Aerial partsEssential oilsDisc diffusion methodStaphylococcus aureusMIC = 15.6 μg/mL[67]
Enterococcus faecalisMIC = 125 μg/mL
Pseudomonas aeruginosaMIC = 125 μg/mL
Escherichia coliMIC < 3.19 μg/mL

LeavesEssential oilBroth microdilution methodSerratia spp.MIC = 4.75 mg/mL[82]
MBC > 9.5 mg/mL
Salmonella spp.MIC = 2.37 mg/mL
MBC > 9.5 mg/mL
Kluyvera spp.MIC = 2.37 mg/mL
MBC > 9.5 mg/mL
Klebsiella spp.MIC = 2.37 mg/mL
MBC = 9.5 mg/mL
Escherichia coli (F5)MIC = 2.37 mg/mL
MBC > 9.5 mg/mL
Escherichia coli (F17)MIC > 9.5 mg/mL
MBC > 9.5 mg/mL
Escherichia coli (CS31 A)MIC = 2.37 mg/mL
MBC = 9.5 mg/mL

Aerial partsEssential oilDisc diffusion methodMRSAФ = 17.5 ± 0.7 mm[31]
Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538)Ф = 11 ± 1.4 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaФ = 21 ± 8.4 mm
Escherichia coli Q157 : H7Ф = 20.5 ± 2.1 mm
Bacillus cereus (CCM99)Ф = 22.5 ± 0.7 mm
Enterococcus faecium (DSM 13590)Ф = 13 ± 4.2 mm

LeavesEssential oilBroth microdilution methodStaphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538)MIC = 10 μg/mL[83]
MBC = 10 μg/mL
Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213)MIC = 8 μg/mL
MBC = 8 μg/mL
Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633)MIC = 2.5 μg/mL
MBC = 5 μg/mL
Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11774)MIC = 2.5 μg/mL
MBC = 5 μg/mL
Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19118)MIC = 2.5 μg/mL
MBC = 2.5 μg/mL
Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14028)MIC = 10 μg/mL
MBC = 10 μg/mL
Escherichia coli O157 : H7 (ATCC 10536)MIC = 10 μg/mL
MBC = 10 μg/mL

Not reportedEssential oilMicrodilution methodStaphylococcus aureusMIC = 0.005 μg/mL[84]
Bacillus subtilisMIC = 0.005 μg/mL
Bacillus cereusMIC = 0.005 μg/mL
Listeria monocytogenesMIC = 0.005 μg/mL
Salmonella typhimuriumMIC = 0.005 μg/mL
Escherichia coli O157 : H7MIC = 0.005 μg/mL

LeavesEssential oilAgar diffusion methodEscherichia coli (ATCC 25922)Ф = 17 mm[69]
Bacillus subtilis (NCTC 8236)Ф = 16 mm

Not reportedDecanted essential oilDisc diffusion assayStaphylococcus epidermidisФ = 2 mm[85]
Enterococcus faecalisФ = 5 mm
Streptococcus mutansФ = 5 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 6 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaNo inhibition

Not reportedRecovered essential oilDisc diffusion assayStaphylococcus epidermidisФ = 2 mm[85]
Enterococcus faecalisФ = 4 mm
Streptococcus mutansФ = 5 mm
Escherichia coliФ = 6 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaNo inhibition

Not reportedEssential oilAgar well diffusion methodEscherichia coliФ = 14 ± 0.05 mm[70]
Salmonella typhiNo inhibition
Salmonella paratyphiNo inhibition
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 21 ± 0.09 mm
Klebsiella pneumoniaeФ = 12.7 ± 0.07 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosaNo inhibition
Acinetobacter spp.Ф = 18 ± 0.11 mm

LeavesEssential oilAgar diffusion methodBacillus subtilisФ = 15 mm at a concentration of 100 mg/mL[71]
Escherichia coliФ = 17 mm at concentration of 100 mg/mL
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 16 mm at a concentration of 100 mg/mL
Pseudomonas aeruginosaФ = 16 mm at a concentration of 100 mg/mL

Aerial partsEssential oilAgar diffusion methodPseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853)No inhibition[7]
Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922)Ф = 9 mm
Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923)Ф = 11 mm
Staphylococcus epidermidisФ = 10 mm
Streptococcus pneumoniaeФ = 13 mm
Streptococcus pyogenesФ = 16 mm
Klebsiella pneumoniaeФ = 8 mm
Salmonella typhiФ = 8 mm
Shigella sonneiФ = 9 mm

LeavesEssential oilAgar-well diffusion assay
Broth microdilution assay
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 32.00 ± 2.65 mm[86]
MIC = 0.25% (v/v)
MBC = 0.25% (v/v)
Pseudomonas aeruginosaФ = 13.33 ± 1.53 mm
MIC = 0.5% (v/v)
MBC = 2% (v/v)
Listeria monocytogenesФ = 26.67 ± 2.08 mm
MIC = 0.25% (v/v)
MBC = 0.25% (v/v)
Bacillus subtilisФ = 17.00 ± 2.00 mm
MIC = 1% (v/v)
MBC = 1% (v/v)
Proteus mirabilisФ = 29.33 ± 1.53 mm
MIC = 0.5% (v/v)
MBC = 1% (v/v)
Escherichia coliФ = 15.33 ± 1.89 mm
MIC = 2% (v/v)
MBC > 2% (v/v)

Whole plantStaphylococcus aureus (MBLA)Ф = 18 ± 1.34 mm[87]
MIC = 4% (v/v)
MBC ˃ 8% (v/v)
Staphylococcus aureus 976Ф = 9 ± 1.9 mm
Listeria monocytogenesФ = 21 ± 3.11 mm
MIC = 1% (v/v)
MBC = 4% (v/v)
Staphylococcus aureus 994Ф = 7 ± 0.66 mm
Bacillus subtilis 6633Ф = 15 ± 0.80 mm
Escherichia coli K12Ф = 9 ± 0.65 mm
Pseudomonas aeruginosa IHNo activity
Proteus mirabilisФ = 19 ± 0.41 mm
MIC = 4% (v/v)
MBC ˃ 8% (v/v)

LeavesEssential oilAgar well diffusion methodKlebsiella pneumoniae (CIP8291)Ф = 25 mm[72]
Escherichia coli (ATCC10536)No activity
Staphylococcus aureus (CIP7625)No activity
Listeria monocytogenes (Scott A 724)Ф = 29 mm

LeavesEssential oilAgar well diffusion methodEscherichia coliФ = 8 mm at a concentration of 500 μL/mL[88]
Salmonella choleraesuisФ = 13 mm at a concentration of 500 μL/mL
Staphylococcus aureusФ = 11 mm at a concentration of 500 μL/mL
Listeria monocytogenesФ = 9.5 mm at a concentration of 500 μL/mL

Aerial partsEssential oilDisc diffusion methodEscherichia coliMIC = 2.5 μL/mL[89]
MBC = 2.5 μL/mL
Streptococcus DMIC = 2.5 μL/mL
MBC = 2.5 μL/mL
E. faecalisMIC = 2.5 μL/mL
MBC = 2.5 μL/mL
K. pneumoniaeMIC = 2.5 μL/mL
MBC = 2.5 μL/mL