[Aromatic and polyphenolic composition of infused peppermint, Mentha x piperita L]. / Composition aromatique et polyphénolique de l'infusé de Menthe, Mentha x piperita L.

The qualitative and quantitative composition of the main aromatic and polyphenolic constituents of Mitcham type peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) tisane, were examined and compared with those of leaves before and after infusion. The original peppermint leaves contained 2.4% essential oil of which menthol was 0.99%, total polyphenolic compounds 19% and total flavonoid compounds 12% comprising eriocitrin 7%, luteolin-7-rutinoside 1.5%, hesperidoside 0.6% and total hydroxycinnamic compounds 7% (rosmarinic acid 1.4%). The tisane contained 21% of the original essential oil corresponding to 25 mg/l, with increased alcohol and ketone contents and lower contents of hydrophobic terpenecarbons, oxides and esters. It contained also a high proportion of the polyphenolic compounds (about 750 mg/l) corresponding to an extraction yield of 75%. In consequence the monograph "Peppermint leaf" of the Pharmacopoeia should be amended.

[Medicinal Lamiaceae with antioxidant properties, a potential source of rosmarinic acid]. / Lamiacées médicinales à propriétés antioxydantes, sources potentielles d'acide rosmarinique.

Hydroalcholic extracts from four native medicinal Lamiaceae, Lycopus europaeus L., Melissa officinalis L., Origanum vulgare L. and Prunella vulgaris L. have shown significant antioxidative activities, by free radical scavenger effect on DPPH, compared with those of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Salvia officinalis L. extracts. The antioxidative activity was partly in relation to the rosmarinic acid content. The major hydroxycinnamic compound, quantitatively determinated by HPLC, was present in large amount. The content in Prunella vulgaris L. spikes average 6.1%, based on dry weight.

[Rosmarinic acid, total hydroxycinnamic derivatives and antioxidant activity of Apiaceae, Borraginaceae and Lamiceae medicinals]. / Teneurs en acide rosmarinique, en dérivés hydroxycinnamiques totaux et activité antioxydante chez les Apiacées, les Borraginacées et les Lamiacées médicinales.

A number of medicinal species of the Apiaceae, Borraginaceae and Lamiaceae families present high rosmarinic acid and total hydroxycinnamic derivative contents. Species of genera Sanicula (Apiaceae), Lycopus, Melissa, Mentha, Origanum and Salvia (Lamiaceae) contain rosmarinic acid in large amount, more than 3%, based on dry weight. The antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts, on DPPH, is partly in relation with the hydroxycinnamic derivative content.

[Tannin content and inhibiting activity of elastase in Rosaceae]. / Teneur en tanins et activité inhibitrice de l'élastase chez les Rosaceae.

From 42 Rosaceae species, only the Rosoideae species exhibit high tannin content and elastase inhibiting activity such as Filipendula ulmaria, Geum montanum, G. rivale, Alchemilla xanthochlora and Sanguisorba minor. Other studied species from Spiraeoideae, Maloideae and Prunoideae subfamilies are less rich in tannin and also less active.