fa Cytotoxic Effects of Essential Oils and Extracts of some <i>Mentha</i> species on Vero, Hela and Hep2 Cell Lines فارماكوگنوزی و فارماسيوتيكس Pharmacognosy & Pharmaceutics پژوهشی Research <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> <em>Mentha</em> species are widely used in traditional medicine mostly as anti-flatulence. Nowadays, their usage as flavor and preservative in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries has been developed. Moreover, cytotoxic effects of some <em>Mentha</em> species have been reported. <strong>Objective:</strong> In this study, cytotoxic properties of <em>Mentha piperita</em>, <em>M. spicata</em>, <em>M. aquatica</em>, <em>M. crispa</em>, <em>M. pulegium</em> and <em>M. longifolia</em> have been investigated. <strong>Methods:</strong> Different concentrations of essential oils and total extracts of six <em>Mentha</em> species were tested by MTT assay against Vero, Hep2 and Hela cell lines. <strong>Results:</strong> The results showed that all samples were toxic against Vero, Hela and Hep2 cell lines (IC50 28.1-166.2 &micro;g/ml). <strong>Conclusion:</strong> All examined <em>Mentha</em> species extracts and essential oils have cytotoxic effects but some of them could be considered as potent toxic agents.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> <em>Mentha</em> species are widely used in traditional medicine mostly as anti-flatulence. Nowadays, their usage as flavor and preservative in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries has been developed. Moreover, cytotoxic effects of some <em>Mentha</em> species have been reported. <strong>Objective:</strong> In this study, cytotoxic properties of <em>Mentha piperita</em>, <em>M. spicata</em>, <em>M. aquatica</em>, <em>M. crispa</em>, <em>M. pulegium</em> and <em>M. longifolia</em> have been investigated. <strong>Methods:</strong> Different concentrations of essential oils and total extracts of six <em>Mentha</em> species were tested by MTT assay against Vero, Hep2 and Hela cell lines. <strong>Results:</strong> The results showed that all samples were toxic against Vero, Hela and Hep2 cell lines (IC50 28.1-166.2 &micro;g/ml). <strong>Conclusion:</strong> All examined <em>Mentha</em> species extracts and essential oils have cytotoxic effects but some of them could be considered as potent toxic agents.</div> <,i>,Mentha<,/i>,, Cytotoxic effects, MTT, Vero, Hela, Hep2 cell line <,i>,Mentha<,/i>,, Cytotoxic effects, MTT, Vero, Hela, Hep2 cell line 88 92 http://jmp.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-96-3&slc_lang=fa&sid=1 N Rahimifard N Rahimifard 100319475328460037839 100319475328460037839 No Department of Microbiology, Food and Drug Laboratory Research Center (FDLRC), MOH & ME Department of Microbiology, Food and Drug Laboratory Research Center (FDLRC), MOH & ME H Hajimehdipoor H Hajimehdipoor Hajimehd@tums.ac.ir 100319475328460037840 100319475328460037840 Yes Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences MH Hedayati MH Hedayati 100319475328460037841 100319475328460037841 No Department of Biotechnology, Pasture Institute of Iran Department of Biotechnology, Pasture Institute of Iran O Bagheri O Bagheri 100319475328460037842 100319475328460037842 No Molecular Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiatalah University of Medical Sciences Molecular Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiatalah University of Medical Sciences H Pishehvar H Pishehvar 100319475328460037843 100319475328460037843 No Department of Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University Department of Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University Y Ajani Y Ajani 100319475328460037844 100319475328460037844 No Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutics, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutics, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR