Bioactivity and health effects of Mentha spicata

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Integrative Food, Nutrition and Metabolism
Integr Food Nutr Metab, 2017 doi: 10.15761/IFNM.1000203 Volume 5(1): 1-2
ISSN: 2056-8339
Carvone renders the characteristic smell of spearmint. e smell
is smooth and near analogous to fennel oil [15]. However, (S)-carvone
and (R)- carvone contribute to the odor of spearmint and caraway seeds
respectively. Both are enantiomers of a biological material but elicit
dierent response. In addition, S-carvone possess high antioxidant
activity [9].
Bioactivity
It is reported that spearmint possesses antioxidant activity [16]
on account of the presence of phenolic acids, avonoids, carvone and
ascorbic acid in leaves [17]. According to Scherer, et al. [18], spearmint
can become an alternate form for synthetic antioxidants which bring
harmful eects.
e biological activities of spearmint also include anti-
inammatory, antimicrobial and sedative [19]. e good antimicrobial
activity is attributed to the high concentration of carvone [18]. In
addition, spearmint is carminative, antispasmodic and diuretic [20].
Uses
Both fresh and dried spearmint plants are widely used in a variety
of application [21]. Since ancient times, both western and eastern
cultures have been practiced spearmint as medical and aromatic plants
[22]. In term of biological uses, spearmint acts as insecticides [23],
antispasmodics and anti-platelets [24]. Moreover, spearmint is used as
antimicrobial [25] and antioxidant agents [26].
In term of medical uses, spearmint is considered as an herbal
medicine in folkoric remedies for treating of colds and u, respiratory
tract problems, gastralgia, hemorrhoids, and stomachache [20,27,28].
Spearmint is extracted in the form of oil and is regularly used in
medicine [15]. Bensabah, et al. [29] states that spearmint leaves are
Bioactivity and health eects of Mentha spicata
Leong Ay Kee1, Amal Bakr Shori 2*and Ahmad Salihin Baba1
1Biomolecular Research Group, Division of Biochemistry, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Traditional medicine provides an important health care service and can be used as alternate therapy. Plants are rich in phytochemical compounds that oer a source
of dietary ingredients used to treat various ailments and problems. Spearmint (Mentha spicata L) belongs to the family Lamiaceae and is a rich source of polyphenols.
ese polyphenols have shown numerous of biological activities and health benets. erefore, the present study shows the bioactivity and health eects of spearmint.
Introduction
Spearmint (Mentha spicata L), belongs to the family Lamiaceae.
e plants of this family are a rich source of polyphenols and thus
possessing strong antioxidant properties [1,2]. Spearmint is indigenous
to northern England [3] and is cultivated in areas with climate
ranging from tropical to temperate, such as America, Europe, China,
South Africa and Brazil [4,5]. Nowadays, spearmint is widely grown
throughout all regions in the world [6].
Spearmint is also known as brown mint, garden mint, lady’s mint,
and sage of Bethehem [3]. Spearmint is a creeping rhizomatous [7]
and perennial herbs [8]. e leaves are broad and sharply serrate. e
trademark of mint family is the stem which is in square-shaped [9].
Spearmint produces rightly and long pink or white owers in slender
spikes. Spearmint leaves possess a characteristic aromatic odour and
pungent taste. However, in contrast to peppermint and Japanese mint,
the cooling aer-eect is absent in spearmint [8,9].
Constituents
e constituents found in spearmint are shown in Table 1. Carvone,
a phenolic compound, is the main constituent found in spearmint oil,
followed by limonene [7,10]. Carvone is reported to be potential in
inhibiting bacterial growth [11], as well as to act as fungicide [12] and
insect repellent [13]. Carvone also reversibly suppresses the sprouting
in stored potatoes or ower bulbs [14].
Correspondence to: Amal Bakr Shori, Department of Biological Sciences,
Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia,
E-mail: shori_7506@hotmail.com
Key words: spearmint, constituents, bioactivity, health/ benet
Received: December 02, 2017; Accepted: December 11, 2017; Published:
December 13, 2017
Compound Percentage (%) Compound Percentage (%)
β - myrcene 0.25 Trans-carveol 0.30
Limonene 11.50 Carvone 78.76
Γ-terpinene 0.16 Dihydrocarvyl
acetate 0.57
Menthone 1.01 L-carveol 0.32
Menthol 1.00 β – bourbonene 1.23
Terpinen-4-ol 0.99 Trans-caryophyllene 1.04
Ɑ-terpinol 0.31 γ – amorphene 0.21
Dihydrocarveol 0.22 ɑ-amorphene 0.16
Cis-dihydrocarveol 1.43 Other compounds 0.11
Dihydrocarvone 0.43 Total 100.00
Table 1. Result of MS essential oil analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
(Adapted from Shahbazi, [35])

Kee LA (2017) Bioactivity and health eects of Mentha spicata
Integr Food Nutr Metab, 2017 doi: 10.15761/IFNM.1000203 Volume 5(1): 2-2
generally taken as a tea in which its carminative properties can help to
treat digestive disorders, fever and minor ailments [3]. Furthermore,
spearmint has broadly applied to treat various illnesses. For instances,
nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal disorders [30,31].
In term of food uses, spearmint is used in food, confectionery, and
chewing gum industries [15,21,29,32]. Spearmint contributes to food
preservation [18] and imparts food taste and aroma [32]. Spearmint
is used in Iran as avouring agent in food products such as cheese and
doogh [33]. Besides, spearmint is added in Indian and Italian cuisine,
either in fresh or dried form, to sh and shellsh plates before or aer
cooking [20,34]. Owing to the antioxidant, antiradical and chelating
properties it possesses, the incorporation of spearmint in food can help
to maintain the equilibrium of redox status in organism as well as to
improve safety and eect on human wellbeing [10]. Spearmint has been
used broadly in cosmetic and soap [21,29,32], as well as toothpaste,
breath freshener and antiseptic mouth rinse [30,31].
Conclusion
Phenolic compounds in spearmint were exhibited many biological
activities. us, spearmint has great potential to be used in medical and
functional foods applications. Further studies and advanced researches
are needed to enhance its properties and increase its applications.
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