Abstract
This study aimed to identify the active constituents of volatile oils extracted from fresh local Iraqi mint and evaluate their antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Essential oils were extracted from local fresh mint was obtained from a local market in Baghdad using a Clevenger apparatus by hydro distillation. The chemical compounds were identified using gas chromatography, Antibacterial activity was evaluated using clinically isolated strains of Streptococcus pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from humans and animals obtained from the Scientific Research Authority, Environment, Water, and Renewable Energy Research and Technology Center, Food Pollution Research Department, Iraq by using the well diffusion method ,minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC),and minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC). Antioxidant activity assayed based on the ability to scavenge free radicals using DPPH assay. the yield of essential oils was 0.08% w/w. Chemical analysis indicated the presence of menthol (44.25%),menthone (15.14%),eucalyptol (3.0%), linalool (7.9%),and pinene (1.9%).Mint oil exhibits antibacterial activity at concentration of 5, 10,and 20mg/ml that increased with increasing concentration of the oil. The antibacterial effect against Streptococcus pneumoniae (16 ± 2.6).which was higher than Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8 ± 6.3) as mean ± SD,MIC of Streptococcus pneumoniae 0.3±0.01,MBC was 0.7±0.02 and MIC of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 0.4±0.02,MBC value 0.6±0.01.fresh Iraqi mint appears to be a promising natural agent for the potential treatment of infections caused by antibiotic –resistant bacteria and as antioxidant.