Abstract
The use of mint species in traditional and conventional medicine is mostly due to the presence of two classes of secondary bimolecules: monoterpenoids in essential oils and different structural types of phenolic compounds. Essential oils are known to act as antimicrobial, antispasmodic, carminative, and antiviral agents. In addition, essential oils of several mint species have been recently qualified as natural antioxidants. However, since oil composition is highly variable, the pharmacological activity strongly depends on certain chemorace. On the contrary, composition of phenolic constituents is relatively stable within species. The most important phenolic compounds in Mentha species are flavonoids. Mints are characterized by the presence of specific lipophilic flavonoids. Phenolic compounds of mints are found to poses a wide range of pharmacological activity: antioxidant, antiulcer, cytoprotective, heptoprotective, cholagogue, chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetogenic etc. However, besides healing properties some mint species can exhibit an adverse effect on human health. Here we report on botany, chemistry and activity of Mentha species with special respect to their significance for the modern phytotherapy.
Keywords: Mentha species, essential oils, phenolics, biological effects, pharmacological activities
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Mentha L. Species (Lamiaceae) as Promising Sources of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites
Volume: 14 Issue: 29
Author(s): N. Mimica-Dukic and B. Bozin
Affiliation:
Keywords: Mentha species, essential oils, phenolics, biological effects, pharmacological activities
Abstract: The use of mint species in traditional and conventional medicine is mostly due to the presence of two classes of secondary bimolecules: monoterpenoids in essential oils and different structural types of phenolic compounds. Essential oils are known to act as antimicrobial, antispasmodic, carminative, and antiviral agents. In addition, essential oils of several mint species have been recently qualified as natural antioxidants. However, since oil composition is highly variable, the pharmacological activity strongly depends on certain chemorace. On the contrary, composition of phenolic constituents is relatively stable within species. The most important phenolic compounds in Mentha species are flavonoids. Mints are characterized by the presence of specific lipophilic flavonoids. Phenolic compounds of mints are found to poses a wide range of pharmacological activity: antioxidant, antiulcer, cytoprotective, heptoprotective, cholagogue, chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetogenic etc. However, besides healing properties some mint species can exhibit an adverse effect on human health. Here we report on botany, chemistry and activity of Mentha species with special respect to their significance for the modern phytotherapy.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Mimica-Dukic N. and Bozin B., Mentha L. Species (Lamiaceae) as Promising Sources of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2008; 14 (29) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208786404245
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208786404245 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Antiviral Activity of Jodantipyrin – An Anti-Inflammatory Oral Therapeutic with Interferon-Inducing Properties
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Microenvironmental Determinants of Adult Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Lineage Commitment in the Healthy and Injured Central Nervous System
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy The Role of the Urokinase Receptor in Epilepsy, in Disorders of Language, Cognition, Communication and Behavior, and in the Central Nervous System
Current Pharmaceutical Design Beyond Oncolytic Virotherapy: Replication-Competent Retrovirus Vectors for Selective and Stable Transduction of Tumors
Current Gene Therapy A V<sub>L</sub>-linker-V<sub>H</sub> orientation dependent single chain variable antibody fragment against rabies virus G protein with enhanced neutralizing potency in vivo.
Protein & Peptide Letters Interleukin-18, From Neuroinflammation to Alzheimers Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Drug Targets for Rational Design against Emerging Coronaviruses
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Nanomaterials’s Effect on Polymerase Chain Reaction
Current Nanoscience Protein Conformational Diseases: From Mechanisms to Drug Designs
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Viral Product Trafficking to Mitochondria, Mechanisms and Roles in Pathogenesis
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Biological Activities of Artemisinin Derivatives Beyond Malaria
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Place of Nanofiltration for Assuring Viral Safety of Biologicals
Current Nanoscience Identification of Novel Anti-inflammatory Agents from Ayurvedic Medicine for Prevention of Chronic Diseases: “Reverse Pharmacology” and “Bedside to Bench” Approach
Current Drug Targets Leptinaemia and Antiendothelial Antibodies in Accelerated Atherosclerosis – Is There a Relationship?
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Innate Immune Surveillance in the Central Nervous System Following Legionella pneumophila Infection
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Endocannabinoid System in Neurological Disorders
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Regulation of Protective and Pathogenic Th17 Responses
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) CCR2 Antagonists
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Infection and Anemia
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Polypharmacological Properties and Therapeutic Potential of β-Caryophyllene: A Dietary Phytocannabinoid of Pharmaceutical Promise
Current Pharmaceutical Design