Separation and Qualitative Study of Mentha asiatica Boriss. Essential Oil Components by prep‐GC, GC‐QTOF‐MS, NMR and Prediction of Bioactive Compounds

Abstract In order to understand the material basis of wild Mentha asiatica Boris. in Xinjiang, the chemical constituents of essential oil extracted from aerial parts of this plant were studied. A total 52 components were detected and 45 compounds were identified. First of all, the essential oil was separated by silica gel column chromatography, and divided into several parts according to the results of thin layer chromatography. Eight fractions were obtained, and then each fragment was preliminarily screened for antibacterial activity. It was found that all eight fragments had certain antibacterial activity in different level. Then the fractions were subjected to preparative gas chromatography (prep‐GC) for further isolation. Ten compounds were identified by 13 C‐NMR, 1 H‐NMR and gas chromatography‐quadrupole time of flight‐Mass spectrometry (GC‐QTOF‐MS). They are sabinene, limonene and β ‐caryophyllene, (1R*,3S*,5R*)‐sabinyl acetate, piperitone oxide, rotundifolone, thymol, piperitone, 4‐hydroxypiperiditone, cedrol. After screened by bioautography, 4‐hydroxypiperone and thymol were showed best antibacterial activity. The inhibitory effects of the two isolated compounds on Candida albicans and their related mechanisms were studied. The results showed that, 4‐hydroxypiperone and thymol significantly reduced ergosterol content on the surface of Candida albicans cell membrane in a dose‐dependent manner. This work has accumulated experience for the development and utilization of Xinjiang characteristic medicinal plant resources and new drug research and development, and provided scientific basis and support for the later research and development of Mentha asiatica Boris.