Antimicrobial Activity of Mentha arvensis L. (Lamiaceae)

The present study has been designed with the objective to examine the ethanol extract of Mentha arvensis L. leaves (family Lamiaceae). In order to investigate its in-vitro antimicrobial potential against strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexneri, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. The ethanolic extract was found to be the most effective and showed antibacterial activity against the organisms tested. The zone of inhibition (mm) at various concentrations of ethanolic extract of Mentha arvensis was found in the range 0.3 μg/ml – 10 μg/ml on tested all the test organisms. The antibacterial activity was more significant against Staphylococcus aureus i.e. 20 mm zonetion. The study revealed the ethanol extract of M. arvensis leaves against microbes.