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Antimutagenic activity of spearmint
Tian-Wei Yu1, Meirong Xu, Roderick H Dashwood
1Cancer Chemoprotection Program, Linus Pauling Institute, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA.
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis
|November 6, 2004
Summary
Spearmint tea, a popular herbal remedy, demonstrates antimutagenic properties by inhibiting the activation of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines like IQ. This protective effect was observed both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting spearmint
Area of Science:
- Food Science and Technology
- Toxicology and Pharmacology
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is widely used as a flavoring agent and herbal tea.
- Heterocyclic amines (HQs) are known mutagens and carcinogens formed during cooking.
- Understanding natural compounds' antimutagenic potential is crucial for cancer prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antimutagenic activity of spearmint extracts against specific mutagens.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying spearmint's protective effects.
- To assess spearmint's efficacy in preventing carcinogen-induced lesions in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Salmonella assay using Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 to test spearmint water, chloroform, and methanol extracts against mutagens 4-nitro-1,2-phenylenediamine (NPD) and 2-hydroxyamino-3-methyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (N-OH-IQ).
- In vitro enzyme inhibition assays to evaluate spearmint's effect on cytochromes P4501A1 and 1A2 activity.
- In vivo study in rats using spearmint water extract as drinking fluid during and after 2-amino-3-methyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) treatment, followed by assessment of colonic aberrant crypt foci.
Main Results:
- Spearmint water extract showed significant, dose-dependent inhibition of N-OH-IQ mutagenicity, but not NPD.
- Extracts also inhibited the mutagenicity of the parent compound IQ in the presence of rat liver S9, though at a higher concentration.
- Spearmint inhibited key enzymes (cytochromes P4501A1 and 1A2) involved in IQ activation and significantly reduced colonic aberrant crypt foci in rats treated with IQ.
Conclusions:
- Spearmint possesses significant antimutagenic activity against heterocyclic amines, particularly N-OH-IQ.
- The protective effects are mediated by inhibiting carcinogen metabolic activation and potentially through direct interaction with activated metabolites.
- Spearmint tea may serve as a dietary intervention to mitigate risks associated with heterocyclic amine exposure.
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