Investigation of treatment with 24-epibrassinolide in plant development, profile of volatile constituents and biological and antioxidant activities of essential oils from leaves of Mentha (Lamiaceae)

Abstract

Some essential oils have antibacterial and antifungal activities and antiproliferative effect against human cancer cell lines. Antimicrobial agents, including essential oils, are used as drugs and as preservatives in pharmaceutical and food industry. Essential oils have important applications in agriculture and in clinical and preventive dentistry. Brassinosteroids increased the levels of carbohydrates and essential oils in some plant species. Mentha arvensis and Mentha piperita, popularly known as hortelã and Mentha pulegium, popularly known as pennyroyal are species widely used for medical purposes in Brazil. The objectives of this project are: 1 - to evaluate the relationship between the effects of hormone on growth parameters, levels of carbohydrates from leaves of Mentha arvensis, Mentha piperita or Mentha pulegium and content of essential oils from their leaves, 2- to evaluate the effect of 24-epibrassinolide on the constitution of essential oils from leaves of these plants, 2 - to determine the antimicrobial, antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of the essential oils obtained from plants with and without treatment with 24-epibrassinolide.