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Nutritional, elemental and phytochemical investigations of Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. and Mentha Spicata L. from District Malakand, Pakistan

. Muhammad Ibrahim, Naveed Akhtar Sara & Haji Bahadar


Abstract

Mentha is a perennial, green, aromatic and medicinal herb. The contemporary investigation study was conducted to determine the nutritional, elemental and phytochemical investigations of Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. and Mentha Spicata L.from district Malakand, Pakistan. These two species of Mentha are used by the local people both as a source of flavouring agent and medicine. The nutritional analysis of both species showed that it contains sufficient quantity of carbohydrates, fats proteins, fibers and caloric energy. The elemental composition of powdered samples of Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds and Mentha Spicata L. leaves through Energy Dispersive X-rays Analysis (EDX) revealed that these plants contains essential elements which are imperative and significant part of human food such as Aluminium, Silicon, Carbon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Magnesium, , Sulphur, Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Chlorine and Cupper. The qualitative investigation for phytochemicals of these selected plant extracts in methanol showed that these plant species are also rich in important phytochemicals. The present research work showed that these selected plant species Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. and Mentha Spicata L. are rich in important and essential nutrients, important elements,  and substantial phytochemicals.

Key words: Nutritional, elemental, phytochemical, Malakand, Pakistan.

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