Ethanolic extraction and GC-MS analysis of antioxidant and anticancer bioactive compounds from <i>Mentha arvensis</i> and <i>Aegle marmelos</i>

Bioactive components used to treat human ailments are abundant in medicinal plants. <i>Mentha arvensis</i> and <i>Aegle marmelos</i> have therapeutic properties due to the presence of many phytonutrients. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to evaluate the properties of the antioxidant and anticancer bioactive components found in the ethanolic extracts of <i>Mentha arvensis</i> and <i>Aegle marmelos</i> leaves. The major constituents identified in the leaf extracts were octadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, 15-methyl-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, ethyl ester, hexadecanoic acid, neophytadiene, pentadecane, hexadecane, and 1-octadecanol. Some of these components have antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Among the identified compounds, octadecanoic acid and n-hexadecanoic acid are pivotal for their anticancer and antioxidant effects. The GC-MS characterisation indicated the existence of abundant bioactive compounds, confirming their potential therapeutic activities. This study showed that the leaves of <i>Mentha arvensis</i> and <i>Aegle marmelos</i> could be used as novel sources of antioxidants and anticancer medicines.