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The Mentha species of family Lamiaceae are famous for their flavor and are commercially used in many food products worldwide. They are widely used to cure digestive problems as well as a natural source of antioxidants and antimicrobials. In this report, the essential oils (EOs) of five Mentha species, namely Mentha citrata, Mentha x piperita, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata, and Mentha suaveolens were extracted and their chemical diversity was investigated through gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). The differential doses (5, 10, and 15 µl) of EOs were tested for antimicrobial potential against two gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), five gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and a fungal strain (Candida albicans). The GC–MS results revealed the major components in the EOs were Carvone, Linalool, Hotrienol, Menthol, Isopulegone, Furanone, Piperitone, and Thymol. Moreover, the higher dose (15 µl) of EOs of M. citrata inhibited the growth of S. typhi and C. albicans (35.8 ± 2.4 and 35.2 ± 2.5 mm), M. x piperita inhibited E. coli, B. subtilis, and C. albicans (28.5 ± 3.5, 26.1 ± 2.1, and 25.4 ± 1.1 mm), M. pulegium inhibited K. pneumoniae, B. subtilis, and C. albicans (26.8 ± 1.8, 24.2 ± 2.2, and 25.3 ± 0.9 mm), M. spicata significantly inhibited S. typhi and B. subtilis (35.7 ± 2.7 and 36.3 ± 2.1 mm), and M. suaveolens inhibited K. pneumoniae, C. albicans, and S. typhi (30.8 ± 1.9, 26.9 ± 1.1, and 20.1 ± 0.8 mm) respectively. This study concluded that the EOs of M. citrata was effective against S. typhi and C. albicans. The M. x piperita exhibited strong activities against E. coli, B. subtilis, and C. albicans. Furthermore, the M. pulegium strongly inhibited the growth of K. pneumoniae and C. albicans. The EO of M. spicata was more potent against S. typhi and B. subtilis, while the M. suaveolens was comparatively more effective against S. typhi, K. pneumoniae, and C. albicans. These EOs offer a natural source of antimicrobial agents with high commercial values and social acceptance and could be scale up by food and pharmaceutical industries to control pathogenic diseases.

Selenium (Se) is a beneficial micronutrient that, at optimal concentrations, supports plant growth, stress resistance, and secondary metabolism. However, its regulatory effects are highly dose-dependent. This study aims to investigate how varying concentrations of sodium selenite (Na 2 SeO 3 ) affect the physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic responses of peppermint ( Mentha piperita L.). Specifically, we hypothesize that low doses promoting beneficial effects and high doses inducing toxicity. Our results demonstrate that treatment with 30 mg/L Na 2 SeO 3 (Se30) significantly enhanced plant growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and antioxidant enzyme activities and secondary metabolite production, including flavonoids. In contrast, 60 mg/L Na 2 SeO 3 (Se60) suppressed growth, caused chloroplast ultrastructure damage, decreased photosynthetic efficiency, and induced oxidative stress. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 1047 differentially expressed genes across the comparisons between Se30, Se60, and CK. Metabolomic analysis showed that Se stress affected four metabolic pathways, involving 124 differentially expressed metabolites, mainly including tyrosine metabolism, flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and ABC transporters. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that Se30 upregulated genes involved in sucrose metabolism, biosynthesis of glutathione and phenylpropanoids, tryptophan metabolism, hormone signaling and selenium assimilation. Additionally, low-dose foliar Na 2 SeO 3 enhances phenolic accumulation and amino acid content, thereby improving both the nutritional and sensory attributes of peppermint. These findings elucidate the dual role of selenium in modulating peppermint growth and quality and provide a mechanistic basis for optimizing selenium biofortification in medicinal and edible plants.

Background: Extracts of several members of the monoterpene-rich Lamiaceae sub-family Nepetoideae, including those from the Salvia (sage), Melissa (Lemon balm) and Rosmarinus (rosemary) genera, evince cognitive and mood effects in humans that are potentially related to their effects on cholinergic and GABAergic neurotransmission. To date, despite promising in vitro properties, the cognitive and mood effects of the closely related Mentha spicata (spearmint) and Mentha piperita (peppermint) remain unexplored. This study therefore assessed the human cognitive/mood effects of the M. spicata/piperita essential oil with the most promising, brain-relevant in vitro properties according to pre-trial in vitro screening. Design: Organic spearmint and peppermint (Mentha spicata/piperita) essential oils were pre-screened for neurotransmitter receptor binding and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, balanced cross-over study, 24 participants (mean age 25.2 years) consumed single doses of encapsulated placebo and 50 µL and 100 µL of the most promising essential oil (peppermint with nicotinic/GABAA receptor binding and AChE inhibitory properties, that increased calcium influx in a CAD cell neuronal model). Psychological functioning was assessed with mood scales and a range of standardised, cognitively demanding tasks pre-dose and at 1, 3 and 6 h post-dose. Results: The highest (100 µL) dose of essential oil improved performance on the cognitively demanding Rapid Visual Information Processing task (RVIP) at 1 h and 3 h post-dose and both doses attenuated fatigue and improved performance of the Serial 3 s subtraction task at 3 h post-dose. Conclusion: Peppermint (Mentha piperita) essential oil with high levels of menthol/menthone and characteristic in vitro cholinergic inhibitory, calcium regulatory and GABAA/nicotinic receptor binding properties, beneficially modulated performance on demanding cognitive tasks and attenuated the increase in mental fatigue associated with extended cognitive task performance in healthy adults. Future investigations should consider investigating higher doses.

Mentha species are used in every day life in various food items. These species produce valuable secondary metabolites that scavenge toxic free radicals. Toxic free radicals can cause different diseases in the human body. In the present study free radical scavenging potential (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity) in nine Mentha species were investigated to evaluate and explore new potential sources for natural antioxidants. The activity was performed after different time intervals with incubation period of 30 minutes. The methanolic extracts revealed that significantly higher activity (82%) was observed in Mentha suaveolens, followed by Mentha longifolia (79%), Mentha officinalis (76%) and Mentha piperita, Mentha pulegium, Mentha royleana (75%), respectively. Significantly same activity was observed in Mentha arvensis and Mentha spicata. Lower activity was observed in Mentha citrata (64%). The present study revealed that these species can be used as natural antioxidants.

Salinity is an abiotic stress that negatively affects plant growth and the synthesis of secondary metabolites. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar applications of titanium (Ti) and nano-titanium (nano-Ti) at concentrations of 0, 50, and 100 mg/L under salinity levels of 0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl in controlled greenhouse conditions. A factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with four replications was conducted. A comprehensive set of morphological (plant height, fresh and dry biomass), physiological (photosynthetic pigments, soluble carbohydrates, proline, and protein content), and biochemical parameters (antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase), as well as essential oil (EO) content and composition, were assessed. Salinity stress markedly reduced plant growth, chlorophyll content, and EO yield, while increasing oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The application of 100 mg/L nano-titanium under non-stress conditions significantly increased plant height (47.01 cm), fresh weight (87.33 g), and essential oil yield (0.639 g/pot). Moreover, essential oil content reached a maximum of 1.84% under 50 mM salinity with 100 mg/L nano-titanium, representing a 212% increase compared to the control. Nano-titanium application under salinity stress increased APX and SOD activities by 176% and 237%, respectively, compared to the control. GC–MS analysis revealed linalool, trans-caryophyllene, 1,8-cineole, and germacrene D as the major EO constituents, whose concentrations were notably influenced by both salinity level and Ti treatments. These findings suggest that nano-Ti has the potential to be used as a sustainable biostimulant to enhance growth and secondary metabolite production in M.  ×  gracilis under saline environments.

Objectives Mint oil is used in various commercial applications world-wide. Mint oil is typically harvested from commercial clones of peppermint or spearmints. Spearmints are the product of a cross between two diploid species: Mentha longifolia (horse mint) and Mentha suaveolens (apple mint). Peppermints are the product of an additional hybridization step between spearmint and an octoploid Mentha aquatica (water mint). Here, we present a chromosome-scale assembly of the genome of a clone of M. suaveolens . Together with the previously assembled genome of M. longifolia , these assemblies are instrumental in addressing questions regarding the origins of spearmint and peppermint oil and the genomic composition of commercial spearmints, and to start elaborating strategies for mint cultivar improvement. Data description A Falcon assembly of the genome of M. suaveolens was generated from 103X coverage of PacBio long reads. Additional scaffolding was conducted by Dovetail Genomics, using a Chicago library, and a HiC library. The resulting assembly had an N50 of 44.7 Mb, and 98.45% of the 536 Mb of the assembly were contained within 12 large superscaffolds. Finally, a genetic map was applied to correct persistent misjoins. Illumina RNA-Seq libraries from a variety of tissues were used to annotate the genome.

Sandy soils are widely distributed in Egypt and are characterized by poor physical properties and a limited capacity to retain irrigation water and nutrients, which severely constrains agricultural productivity. Addressing these limitations has become increasingly critical to ensure sustainable crop production under arid and semi-arid conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of biochar as a soil amendment for improving growth performance, yield, nutrient accumulation, photosynthetic pigments, and essential oil production of Mentha spicata cultivated under sandy soil conditions over two successive seasons (2024–2025). The field experiment consisted of four treatments: untreated control, NPK at 5 g L -1 , biochar at 12.5 ton ha -1 , and combined NPK (5 g L -1 ) and biochar (12.5 ton ha -1 ). The results showed that biochar application, either alone or in combination with mineral fertilizer, significantly improved all vegetative growth parameters, fresh and dry herbage yields, essential oil percentage and yield, leaf macronutrient content (N, P, and K), and chlorophyll b concentration. Biochar applied alone consistently outperformed mineral fertilizer alone, while the combined biochar–NPK treatment produced the highest values for all measured traits, with improvements exceeding the additive effects of individual applications. These enhancements were closely associated with increased nutrient accumulation and improved nutrient use efficiency, reflecting the ability of biochar to retain nutrients, reduce leaching losses, and synchronize nutrient availability with plant demand. The synergistic interaction between biochar and mineral fertilization highlights the potential of biochar as a sustainable soil amendment for improving productivity, quality, and resource-use efficiency of mint grown in low-fertility sandy soils.

The oral microbiome is a diverse and complex ecosystem essential for maintaining oral and systemic health. Our study is the first to define the oral microbial community in Egyptian young adults and investigate the effects of natural antimicrobials on the oral microbiome. SuperMint (SM) is a proprietary blend of peppermint, Japanese mint, bergamot mint, and spearmint essential oils encapsulated in a tiny soft beadlet. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of SM beadlets on the oral microbiome. This study recruited twenty healthy participants. A baseline investigation of the oral microbiome of the selected participants was performed by collecting saliva and swab samples before treatment. Treatment included chewing four SM beadlets twice a day for 7 days, and then, post-administration saliva and swab samples were collected at the end of treatment. The oral microbiome samples were analyzed by the high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments, and the community composition was determined. The results showed that the abundance of some microbial genera and families decreased after using SM, including Prevotella, Streptococcus, Neisseria, and Haemophilus. However, some genera showed inconsistent patterns. We also found that the subject’s gender and SM usage were significantly associated with diverse microbial composition. The results suggest that SM treatment decreased the abundance of several bacteria associated with halitosis and periodontal diseases, such as Actinomyces and Streptococcus. Furthermore, Corynebacterium species increased and Streptococcus decreased after SM usage. More research is needed to fully understand the antimicrobial effects of mint oils and their potential applications in maintaining good oral health.

Main conclusionTranscription factors MhMYB1 and MhMYB2 correlate with monoterpenoid biosynthesis pathway in l-menthol chemotype of Mentha haplocalyx Briq, which could affect the contents of ( −)-menthol and ( −)-menthone.Mentha haplocalyx Briq., a plant with traditional medicinal and edible uses, is renowned for its rich essential oil content. The distinct functional activities and aromatic flavors of mint essential oils arise from various chemotypes. While the biosynthetic pathways of the main monoterpenes in mint are well understood, the regulatory mechanisms governing different chemotypes remain inadequately explored. In this investigation, we identified and cloned two transcription factor genes from the M. haplocalyx MYB family, namely MhMYB1 (PP236792) and MhMYB2 (PP236793), previously identified by our research group. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that MhMYB1 possesses two conserved MYB domains, while MhMYB2 contains a conserved SANT domain. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) analysis results demonstrated that both MhMYB1 and MhMYB2 interacted with the promoter regions of MhMD and MhPR, critical enzymes in the monoterpenoid biosynthesis pathway of M. haplocalyx. Subsequent virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of MhMYB1 and MhMYB2 led to a significant reduction (P < 0.01) in the relative expression levels of MhMD and MhPR genes in the VIGS groups of M. haplocalyx. In addition, there was a noteworthy decrease (P < 0.05) in the contents of ( −)-menthol and ( −)-menthone in the essential oil of M. haplocalyx. These findings suggest that MhMYB1 and MhMYB2 transcription factors play a positive regulatory role in ( −)-menthol biosynthesis, consequently influencing the essential oil composition in the l-menthol chemotype of M. haplocalyx. This study serves as a pivotal foundation for unraveling the regulatory mechanisms governing monoterpenoid biosynthesis in different chemotypes of M. haplocalyx.

Mentha spicata L. (spearmint) is a high‐value aromatic and medicinal species, whose productivity is strongly affected by water deficit. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying drought acclimation in this mint remain largely unexplored. Thus, here, we investigated the microRNA‐mediated regulatory processes triggered in M. spicata under drought stress (DS) and following treatment with gallic acid (GA), a natural phenolic compound that our research group has already documented to be a potential biostimulant for spearmint. A small‐RNA sequencing approach revealed that both DS and GA induced substantial changes of the expressed miRNome, modulating 35 microRNAs (e.g., miR397a, miR159a, miR172b) whose predicted targets (e.g., Laccase‐2, MYB transcription factors) are known to be involved also in lignin production. In detail, DS induced upregulation of lignin biosynthetic genes, enhancement of Laccase activity, and shifting in lignin monomer composition, promoting the putative reinforcement of the cell wall as expected during water deficiency. Conversely, GA treatment attenuated DS‐induced stress, regulating microRNA‐mRNA modules which balanced phytochemical and hormonal response while maintaining controlled lignification and optimising xylem function. These results highlight the pivotal role of microRNAs in orchestrating drought acclimation in M. spicata and identify GA as a compensatory agent under water‐limiting conditions, capable of fine‐tuning growth, cell wall remodelling, and redox homeostasis. Collectively, our findings provide molecular insights into biostimulant‐mediated stress resilience and identify GA treatment as a promising biotechnological strategy to improve drought tolerance in Lamiaceae crops.