Abstract
To investigate the effects of mint (Mentha spicata L.) tea consumed during pregnancy on prenatal maternal weight, length of pregnancy and morphometric development of pups in postnatal period. Twelve female (7 in mint tea group and 5 controls) and 6 male (used for mating) Wistar albino rats weighing 190-210 g were used in the study. Throughout the pregnancy, the mint tea group was given 4 ml of mint (Mentha spicata L.) tea at the same time every day and the control group was given 4 ml of commercial drinking water by gavage. Weights of pregnant rats in both groups were measured three times a week throughout the pregnancy. After the pups were born, morphometric growth parameters pertaining to the body, cranium, thorax and limbs were measured during newborn and lactation periods and adulthood. Pregnant rats in the MT group gained less weight during gestation than the control rats. Morphometric parameters were measured on a total of 66 pups born to rats in both groups (46 pups in the MT group; 20 pups in the control group and measurements of pups born to rats in the MT group were smaller than the control group (p<0.05). Morphometric parameters measured after six weeks showed a significant difference between females in the MT and control groups, with the females in the MT group having smaller measurements (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in morphometric parameters between males in the MT and control groups. Mint tea consumption during pregnancy has a negative effect on maternal weight gain and certain postnatal morphometric parameters, more prominently in female progenies. Therefore mint (Mentha spicata L.) tea consumption during pregnancy calls for caution.
Highlights
Mint (Mentha piperita labiatae and Mentha spicata labiatae) is an aromatic herb that has been used for therapeutic purposes or as a drink
Increase in maternal weight in the MT group during gestation was less than the control group (Figure 1; total weight gain: 90.5 g in the MT group, 97.75 g in the control group)
Various types of herbal teas are used during gestation (Saleem et al, 2000, Westfall, 2004, Guney et al, 2006)
Summary
Mint (Mentha piperita labiatae and Mentha spicata labiatae) is an aromatic herb that has been used for therapeutic purposes or as a drink. Mint has gas expelling, cramp relieving, antiemetic, antipyretic, analgesic, nervous system boosting, antiseptic, antibacterial (menthol, antiseptic) and antifungal effects (Saleem et al, 2000, Akdoğan et al.,2004, Güney et al, 2006). A study carried out in North America revealed that herbal teas are used in the first trimester to alleviate nausea and vomiting (Westfall, 2004). They are used frequently to relieve thirst, to benefit from its soothing properties and to increase the amount of milk production during lactation (Ernst, 2002, Westfall, 2004). M. spicata L. was shown to have a dose-dependent protective effect on cutaneous oxidative stress, toxicity and hyperproliferative effects induced by benzoly peroxide (Westfall, 2004)
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