Mentha piperita as a pivotal neuro-protective agent against gamma irradiation induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis : Mentha extract as a neuroprotective against gamma irradiation

Investigation of high-dose radiotherapy's effect on brain structure aggravated cognitive impairment and deteriorated patient psychological status in brain tumor treatment

This study aims to investigate the potential impact of high-dose radiotherapy (RT) on brain structure, cognitive impairment, and the psychological status of patients undergoing brain tumor treatment. We recruited and grouped 144 RT-treated patients with brain tumors into the Low dose group (N = 72) and the High dose group (N = 72) according to the RT dose applied. Patient data were collected by using the HADS and QLQ-BN20 system for subsequent analysis and comparison. Our analysis showed no significant correlation between the RT doses and the clinicopathological characteristics. We found that a high dose of RT could aggravate cognitive impairment and deteriorate patient role functioning, indicated by a higher MMSE and worsened role functioning in the High dose group. However, the depression status, social functioning, and global health status were comparable between the High dose group and the Low dose group at Month 0 and Month 1, while being worsened in the High dose group at Month 3, indicating the potential long-term deterioration of depression status in brain tumor patients induced by high-dose RT. By comparing patient data at Month 0, Month 1, Month 3, Month 6, and Month 9 after RT, we found that during RT treatment, RT at a high dose could aggravate cognitive impairment in the short term and lead to worsened patient role functioning, and even deteriorate the overall psychological health status of patients in the long term.

Neuroprotective potential of Mentha piperita extract prevents motor dysfunctions in mouse model of Parkinson's disease through anti-oxidant capacities

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world. Neurodegeneration of the substantia nigra (SN) and diminished release of dopamine are prominent causes of this progressive disease. The current study aims to evaluate the protective potential of ethanolic extract of Mentha piperita (EthMP) against rotenone-mediated PD features, dopaminergic neuronal degeneration, oxidative stress and neuronal survival in a mouse model. Swiss albino male mice were assigned to five groups: control (2.5% DMSO vehicle), PD (rotenone 2.5 mg/kg), EthMP and rotenone (200mg/kg and 2.5mg/kg, respectively), EthMP (200 mg/kg), and Sinemet, reference treatment containing levodopa and carbidopa (20 mg/kg and rotenone 2.5mg/kg). Behavioral tests for motor functional deficit analysis were performed. Anti-oxidant capacity was estimated using standard antioxidant markers. Histopathology of the mid-brain for neurodegeneration estimation was performed. HPLC based dopamine level analysis and modulation of gene expression using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for the selected genes. EthMP administration significantly prevented the rotenone-mediated motor dysfunctions compared to PD group as assessed through open field, beam walk, pole climb down, stepping, tail suspension, and stride length tests. EthMP administration modulated the lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, as well as glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activities in mouse brain. EthMP extract prevented neurodegeneration in the SN of mice and partially maintained dopamine levels. The expression of genes related to dopamine, anti-oxidant potential and synapses were modulated in M. piperita (MP) extract treated mice brains. Current data suggest therapeutic capacities of MP extract and neuroprotective capacities, possibly through antioxidant capacities. Therefore, it may have potential clinical applications for PD management.

Dietary agents in the prevention of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV): review addressing the scientific observations, benefits, lacunae and future direction

PURPOSE

Radiation-induced Nausea and Vomiting (RINV) is an important side effect and conservative estimates are that 50-80% of the patients undergoing curative radiotherapy (RT) will experience some sought of retching, nausea, and/or vomiting during the course of their treatment. Conventionally, antiemetic drugs like the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonists and steroids are the mainstay of treatment. However, the use of these agents, especially steroids, can cause side effects and thereby negate the proposed benefits. The antiemetic effects of Centella asiatica (Indian pennywort), Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea buckthorn), oil of Mentha spicata (Spearmint) and the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (ginger) have been addressed.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that Indian pennywort, Sea buckthorn, Spearmint oil and ginger are beneficial in mitigating RINV. Also, of the four plants investigated in preclinical models of study, mint oil and ginger seem to be more useful and merit structured systematic translational studies to ascertain the benefit of these two agents.

Fortification of Fermented Camel Milk with Salvia officinalis L. or Mentha piperita Leaves Powder and Its Biological Effects on Diabetic Rats

The incorporation of fermented camel milk with natural additives possesses numerous benefits for the treatment of various pathological and metabolic conditions. The present study investigated the impact of fortification of fermented camel milk with sage or mint leaves powder (1 and 1.5%, respectively) on glucose and insulin levels, lipid profile, and liver and kidney functions in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The gross chemical composition of sage and peppermint leaves powder was studied. The chemical composition of sage and mint extracts was performed using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) of sage and mint extracts. Furthermore, a total of forty-two adult normal male albino rats were included in this study, whereas one group was kept as the healthy control group (n = 6 rats) and diabetes was induced in the remaining animals (n = 36 rats) using alloxan injection (150 mg/kg of body weight). Among diabetic rats groups, a control group (n = 6 rats) was kept as the diabetic control group whereas the other 5 groups (6 rats per group) of diabetic rats were fed fermented camel milk (FCM) or fermented camel milk fortified with 1 and 1.5% of sage or mint leaves powder. Interestingly, the oral administration of fermented camel milk fortified with sage or mint leaves powder, at both concentrations, caused a significant decrease in blood glucose level and lipid profile, and an increase in insulin level compared to the diabetic control and FCM groups. Among others, the best results were observed in the group of animals that received fermented camel milk fortified with 1.5% sage powder. In addition, the results revealed that the fermented camel milk fortified with sage or mint leaves powder improved the liver and kidney functions of diabetic rats. Our study concluded that the use of sage and mint leaves powder (at a ratio of 1.5%) with fermented camel milk produces functional food products with anti-diabetic activity.

Effects of radiation and role of plants in radioprotection: A critical review

Radiation can be lethal at high doses, whereas controlled doses are useful in medical applications. Other applications include power generation, agriculture sterilization, nuclear weapons, and archeology. Radiation damages genetic material, which is reflected in genotoxicity and can cause hereditary damage. In the medical field, it is essential to avoid the harmful effects of radiation. Radiation countermeasures and the need for radioprotective agents have been explored in recent years. Considering plants that evolve in radiative conditions, their ability to protect organisms against radiation has been studied and demonstrated. Crude extracts, fractioned extracts, isolated phytocompounds, and plant polysaccharides from various plants have been used in radioprotection studies, and their efficiency has been proven in various in vitro and in vivo experimental models. It is important to identify the mechanism of action to develop a potent plant-based radioprotective agent. To identify this protective mechanism, it is necessary to understand the damage caused by radiation in biological systems. This review intends to discuss the effects of ionizing radiation on biological systems and evaluate plant-based radioprotectants that have tested thus far as well as their mechanism of action in protecting against the toxic effects of radiation. From the review, the mechanism of radioprotection exhibited by the plant-based products could be understood. Meanwhile, we strongly suggest that the potential products identified so far should undergo clinical trials for critically evaluating their effects and for developing an ideal and compatible radioprotectant with no side-effects.

The Wonderful Activities of the Genus Mentha: Not Only Antioxidant Properties

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.

Potential Role of Phenolic Extracts of Mentha in Managing Oxidative Stress and Alzheimer's Disease

With an increase in the longevity and thus the proportion of the elderly, especially in developed nations, there is a rise in pathological conditions that accompany ageing, such as neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive and memory decline. The pathophysiology of the disease is poorly understood, with several factors contributing to its development, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, cholinergic neuronal apoptotic death, and the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain. Current medications are only palliative and cannot stop or reverse the progression of the disease. Recent clinical trials of synthetic compounds for the treatment of AD have failed because of their adverse effects or lack of efficacy. Thus, there is impetus behind the search for drugs from natural origins, in addition to the discovery of novel, conventional therapeutics. Mints have been used traditionally for conditions relevant to the central nervous system. Recent studies showed that mint extracts and/or their phenolic constituents have a neuroprotective potential and can target multiple events of AD. In this review, we provide evidence of the potential role of mint extracts and their derivatives as possible sources of treatments in managing AD. Some of the molecular pathways implicated in the development of AD are reviewed, with focus on apoptosis and some redox pathways, pointing to mechanisms that may be modulated for the treatment of AD, and the need for future research invoking knowledge of these pathways is highlighted.

Chemical composition and biological activity of Mentha citrata Ehrh., essential oils growing in southern Algeria

Three techniques, hydro distillation, steam distillation and microwave-assisted distillation, was used in this work to extract volatile secondary metabolites essential oils (EOs), from the aerial part of Mentha citrata Ehrh., plant (steams, leaves and flowers). The plant material was collected from a location called El-kobna in El-Oued province, southern Algeria during June 2018. The extracted Mentha citrata EOs, were analyzed using both gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector and gas chromatography attached with mass spectrometry detector techniques. The antioxidant activity of these EOs were evaluated in vitro using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radicals scavenging activity and cytotoxic test. The results of the EOs analysis showed large variability of the chemical compositions for all techniques. Moreover, a promising cytotoxic activity on colon cancer cells was found.

Delayed cognitive deficits can be alleviated by calcium antagonist nimodipine by downregulation of apoptosis following whole brain radiotherapy

Radiation therapy is important for the comprehensive treatment of intracranial tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of delayed cognitive dysfunction are not well-defined and effective treatments or prevention measures remain insufficient. In the present study, 60 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, which included a control, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) (single dose of 30 Gy of WBRT) and nimodipine (single dose of 30 Gy of WBRT followed by nimodipine injection intraperitoneally) groups. The rats were sacrificed 7 days or 3 months following irradiation. At 3 months, the Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory function in rats. The results demonstrated that the WBRT group demonstrated a significantly impaired cognitive performance, decreased numbers of hippocampal Cornu Ammonis (CA)1 neurons and upregulated expression of caspase-3 in the dentate gyrus compared with those in the control and nimodipine groups. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that the WBRT group exhibited increased ratio of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein (Bax)/Bcl-2 compared with that in control and nimodipine groups on day 7 following irradiation. However, the WBRT group exhibited decreased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) compared with that in control and nimodipine groups at 3 months following brain irradiation. The levels of growth-associated protein 43 and amyloid precursor protein between the nimodipine group and WBRT group were not statistically significant. The present study demonstrated that neuron apoptosis may lead to delayed cognitive deficits in the hippocampus, in response to radiotherapy. The cognitive impairment may be alleviated in response to a calcium antagonist nimodipine. The molecular mechanisms involved in nimodipine-mediated protection against cognitive decline may involve the regulation of Bax/Bcl-2 and BDNF in the hippocampus.

The use of medicinal herbs in gynecological and pregnancy-related disorders by Jordanian women: a review of folkloric practice vs. evidence-based pharmacology

Context National statistical reports in Jordan indicate a decrease in the total fertility rate along with a parallel increase in contraceptive use. The folkloric use of medicinal herbs in gynecological disorders has been growing in Jordan, despite of deficient reports on the evidence-based safety and efficacy of these practices. Objective The aim of this comprehensive article is to review medicinal plants with claimed ethnonpharmacological usage in various gynecological and pregnancy-related issues in Jordan, and to assess their evidence-based pharmacological studies as well as their phytochemistry. Methods The published literature was surveyed using Google Scholar entering the terms "ethnopharmacology AND Jordan AND infertility AND gynecology OR gestation". We included ethnopharmacological surveys in Jordan with available full-text. Results Twelve articles were reviewed. Plant species which are commonly used for female gynecological issues such as Artemisia monosperma Del. and A. herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae) have been found to exert an antifertility effect. Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae) and Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) had antifertility effects in male rats, but Nigella sativa oil L. (Ranunculaceae) and Cinnamon zeylanicum J. Presl (Lauraceae) were found to enhance it. Conclusion Using plants for gynecological disorders is a common practice in Jordan. Many of them, whether utilised for gynecological or non-gynecological conditions equally, were found to have detrimental effects on female or male fertility. Thus, couples planning pregnancy should be discouraged from the consumption of these herbs. Further local studies are warranted to confirm the appreciable beneficial pharmacological effects and safety of these plants.

Protective effects of cyclosativene on H2O 2-induced injury in cultured rat primary cerebral cortex cells

Sesquiterpenes have attracted much interest with respect to their protective effect against oxidative damage that may be the cause of many diseases including several neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Our previous unpublished work suggested that cyclosativene (CSV), a tetracyclic sesquiterpene, has antioxidant and anticarcinogenic features. However, little is known about the effects of CSV on oxidative stress induced neurotoxicity. We used hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) exposure for 6 h to model oxidative stress. Therefore, this experimental design allowed us to explore the neuroprotective potential of CSV in H2O2-induced toxicity in new-born rat cerebral cortex cell cultures for the first time. For this aim, MTT and lactate dehydrogenase release assays were carried out to evaluate cytotoxicity. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative stress (TOS) parameters were used to evaluate oxidative changes. In addition to determining of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) levels, the single cell gel electrophoresis (or Comet assay) was also performed for measuring the resistance of neuronal DNA to H2O2-induced challenge. Our results showed that survival and TAC levels of the cells decreased, while TOS, 8-OH-dG levels and the mean values of the total scores of cells showing DNA damage (Comet assay) increased in the H2O2 alone treated cultures. But pre-treatment of CSV suppressed the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress which were increased by H2O2. On the basis of these observations, it is suggested that CSV as a natural product with an antioxidant capacity in mitigating oxidative injuries in the field of neurodegenerative disorders.