Integrated Phytochemical and Pharmacological Investigation of Mentha aquatica L.: Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic, and Safety Evidence From In Vivo Studies.

This study investigated the chemical composition, safety profile, and pharmacological activities of a decocted extract from the aerial parts of Mentha aquatica (MA-DE). High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) identified several phenolic constituents, mainly hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids. Safety was evaluated through acute and subacute toxicity studies in albino mice. Acute toxicity testing involved oral and intraperitoneal administration of MA-DE at doses up to 8 g/kg body weight (BW). Oral administration produced no mortality or observable toxic effects, whereas intraperitoneal administration induced dose-dependent toxicity, with an LD50 of 5.975 g/kg BW; the NOAEL and LOAEL were determined as 0.5 and 1 g/kg BW, respectively. In the subacute study, mice received daily oral doses of 0.1, 0.5, or 1 g/kg BW for 28 days, with no significant changes observed in hematological, biochemical, or histopathological parameters compared with controls. The anti-inflammatory activity of MA-DE was assessed using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model in Wistar rats, while analgesic activity was evaluated using the writhing test. MA-DE exhibited significant, dose-dependent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects at 200 and 400 mg/kg BW. Overall, MA-DE appears safe when administered orally and demonstrates promising pharmacological properties, supporting its traditional use and potential phytotherapeutic application.