Abstract
Medicinal plants and their derived compounds have drawn the attention of researchers due to their considerable impact on human health. Among medicinal plants, mint (Mentha species) exhibits multiple health beneficial properties, such as prevention from cancer development and anti-obesity, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and cardioprotective effects, as a result of its antioxidant potential, combined with low toxicity and high efficacy. Mentha species are widely used in savory dishes, food, beverages, and confectionary products. Phytochemicals derived from mint also showed anticancer activity against different types of human cancers such as cervix, lung, breast and many others. Mint essential oils show a great cytotoxicity potential, by modulating MAPK and PI3k/Akt pathways; they also induce apoptosis, suppress invasion and migration potential of cancer cells lines along with cell cycle arrest, upregulation of Bax and p53 genes, modulation of TNF, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8, and induction of senescence phenotype. Essential oils from mint have also been found to exert antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and many others. The current review highlights the antimicrobial role of mint-derived compounds and essential oils with a special emphasis on anticancer activities, clinical data and adverse effects displayed by such versatile plants.
Highlights
Medicinal plants and their derived compounds have been considered of pharmacological significance since ancient times
The current review highlights the antimicrobial role of mint-derived compounds and essential oils with a special emphasis on anticancer activities, clinical data and adverse effects displayed by such versatile plants
Husain et al reported that treatment of P. aeruginosa PAO1 by MPEO resulted in a decrease in the production of: LasB elastase; pyocyanin up to 85%; exopolymeric substance (EPS); β-galactosidase activity up to 54.5%; acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) levels that regulate virulence factors and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa and Aeromonas hydrophila [114]
Summary
Medicinal plants and their derived compounds (phytochemicals) have been considered of pharmacological significance since ancient times. Most synthetic bioactive drugs are structurally similar to the phytochemicals of plants from which they were firstly isolated [2,3]. Plant materials have an important role in primary care or disease treatment. Due to contraindications in the usage of chemical drugs, there is a growing interest in the utilization of the plant-derived medicinal products [4], since compared to synthetic drugs some of these natural products have lower toxicity and higher efficacy [5]. Some of the aforementioned plant-derived compounds have pleasant taste and odor and can be used in kitchen as flavorings, spices and food [9]. Among the plants with global economic and culinary importance, mint is used worldwide for perfuming sweet and savoury dishes and flavouring tea, in addition to its pharmacological importance
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