Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Mentha spicata

Abstract

Mentha spicata, also called Mentha viridis, is a medicinal plant of the Lamiaceae family characterized by its potency to synthesize and secret secondary metabolites, essentially essential oils. Different populations use the aerial parts of this plant for tea preparation, and this tisane has shown several effects, according to ethnopharmacological surveys carried out in different areas around the world. These effects are attributed to different compounds of M. spicata, in which their biological effects were recently proved experimentally. Pharmacological properties of M. spicata extracts and essential oils were investigated for different health benefits such as antioxidant, anticancer, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic effects. In vitro and in vivo studies showed positives effects that could be certainly related to different bioactive compounds identified in M. spicata. Indeed, volatile compounds seem to be efficient in inhibiting different microbial agents such as bacteria, fungi, and parasites through several mechanisms. Moreover, M. spicata exhibited, according to some studies, promising antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects, which show its potential to be used as a source for identifying natural drugs against cellular oxidative stress and its related diseases. Importantly, toxicological investigations of M. spicata show the safety of this species at different doses and several periods of use which justify its use in traditional medicines as tisane with tea. Here, we report, explore, and highlight the data published on M. spicata concerning its botanical description and geographical distribution, its phytochemical compounds, its pharmacological properties, and its toxicological investigations of M. spicata.

Situational Strategic Planning and Environmental Education, for Elementary School students, intertwined in the teaching and learning of medical professionals: Experience report

“…From this perspective, even though species of flora with medicinal properties have a potential that ranges from stimulant, diuretic, laxative, expectorant, healing, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic and even the ability to help fight anemia caused by chemotherapy treatments (Junior et al , 2020;El Menyiy et al, 2022;Veiga et al, 2005;Zuber et al, 2016). The decrease in the presence of medicinal plants in the Community, whether in residential areas or in free fairs and popular markets, among other factors, signals the growth of the devaluation of traditional knowledge that may be being suffocated by the Pharmaceutical Industry (Maciel et al, 2002) .…”

Taxonomic diversity of spice crops available in Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden and their medicinal properties

“…Spearmints are traditionally used to treat colds, fever, cough, asthma, jaundice, obesity, and digestive problems. Volatile oils from spearmint have efficient inhibiting properties against fungi, bacteria, and other parasites (El Menyiy, 2022;Amel et al, 2022). (Fig.…”

Planejamento Estratégico Situacional e Educação Ambiental, para alunos do Ensino Fundamental, entrelaçados no ensino e aprendizagem do profissional de medicina: relato de experiência

“…Sob essa perspectiva, ainda que as espécies da flora com propriedades medicinais possuam desde potencial estimulante, diurético, laxante, expectorante, cicatrizante, anti-inflamatório, anti ulcerogênico e até a capacidade de auxiliar no combate a anemia causada por tratamentos quimioterápicos (Júnior et al, 2020;El Menyiy et al, 2022;Veiga et al, 2005;Zuber et al, 2016), a presença das plantas medicinais na Comunidade tem diminuídoquer em áreas residenciais, quer em feiras livres e mercados popularessinalizando o crescimento da desvalorização dos conhecimentos tradicionais que podem estar sendo sufocados pela Indústria Farmacêutica (Maciel et al, 2002).…”