FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN, cilt.22, sa.11, ss.3258-3263, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
Calamintha nepeta L., a perennial aromatic plant, which belongs to the Lamiaceae family, has also been widely used against insomnia, depression, convulsion and cramps, and also because of its antiseptic and diuretic properties. In the present study, we aimed to determine the chemical composition and in vitro antigenotoxic and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Calamintha nepeta L. from Turkey. The main components of essential oil of C. nepeta (CNE) were accounted by using GC analysis. Anti-genotoxic activity was evaluated by sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronucleus (MN) tests. In addition to, investigating protective role of essential oils of C. nepeta (CNEs) against the oxidative stress of aflatoxin B-1 in vitro, the oxidative status was assessed by measuring following oxidative stress markers: super oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The 13 GC-identified components accounted for 98.56%. Major components of the oil were cis-piperitone epoxide (48.66%), piperitenone oxide (22.08%), limonene (13.51%), and terpinen-4-ol (4.55%). In both tests systems, it was observed that essential oils of C. nepeta (CNEs) suppressed the mutagenic effects of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)). Essential oils of C. nepeta (CNEs) were observed to modulate the adverse effects of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)). The results of the present study have clearly shown that essential oils of C. nepeta (CNEs) have strong antioxidative and anti-genotoxic effects, which are probably related to its action on the enzymatic activation system, and resulting from the role of cis-piperitone epoxide, piperitenone oxide and limonene compounds.