In vitro Antibacterial and Anti-Fungal Activities of Methanolic Extract of Mentha pulegium

The aims of our research were analysis of the secondary metabolite products and in vitro antibacterial and anti-fungal activities. Infectious diseases which are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide represent a critical problem to health. Pharmacological industries have produced number of new-antibiotics in the last three decades, but microbial resistance to these antibiotics has increased because of genetic ability of the bacteria to acquire and transmit the resistance against therapeutic agents. Mentha pulegium is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. The FTIR analysis of Mentha pulegium leaves proved the presence of alkenes, alkyl halides, aromatic, and amide which shows major peaks at 958.62, 985.62, 1012.63, 1026.13, 1093.64, 1242.16, 1255.66, 1593.20, 1606.70 and 2362.80. In the current study, the anti-microbial activity of Mentha pulegium methanolic extract was evaluated by determining the zone of inhibition against bacteria, fungi and yeast. Maximum zone formation was against Staphylococcus aureus (5.89±0.20). Mentha pulegium was very highly active against Aspergillus terreus (6.37±0.22).