Mint: a new ally for our liver
Published on February 2, 2018 - Food
Liver disorders such as hepatitis B and C, autoimmune hepatitis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (steatohepatitis) are widespread among populations worldwide.
Some of these conditions, besides being caused by excessive alcohol consumption or drug use, can arise due to oxidative stress—a condition in which cells lack or have inefficient systems to eliminate free radicals.
These chemical species (free radicals), when in excess, damage healthy cells, increasing the risk of serious chronic disorders such as diabetes, arteriosclerosis, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, liver cirrhosis, and aging.
As treatments for these disorders often involve specific care with potential severe side effects, research aims to discover new drugs containing plant derivatives that can treat diseases while minimizing side effects.
To counter the effect of free radicals on the liver, the primary focus is on testing the antioxidant capacity of plants.
The most commonly used medicinal remedy for this purpose contains a mixture of flavolignans extracted from Milk Thistle. However, recent studies have shifted attention to certain species of a well-known, versatile, and readily available plant: mint.
For centuries, mint has been used as a folk remedy for treating ulcerative colitis, nausea, anorexia, bronchitis, relieving stomach and intestinal gas, promoting menstruation, calming involuntary muscle contractions and vomiting, promoting sweating, and exhibiting anti-inflammatory, analgesic, stimulating, and anticatarrhal properties.
Two laboratory tests aimed to evaluate the liver-protective capacity of mint, particularly the Mentha pulegium L. and Mentha x piperita L. species.
In the first experiment, fresh leaves of M. pulegium were washed, dried, and macerated in a solution of hexane and ethanol using ultrasonic bath.
The resulting extract was tested on liver samples severely damaged by oxidative stress to calculate its antioxidant capacity and ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation (a chemical reaction where free radicals react with cell membrane lipids, causing irreversible damage and the onset of diseases).
Results showed that the M. pulegium extract does not possess significant antioxidant action but is highly effective in preventing lipid peroxidation and consequent liver damage in the presence of intense oxidative stress. The effectiveness is greater when the extract is administered 8 days before the damage appears and at high doses.
In the second experiment, the liver-protective capacity of the essential oil of Mentha piperita was tested.
The study revealed that the antioxidant capacity of the essential oil is lower than the commonly prescribed Milk Thistle extract-based drug. However, the essential oil demonstrated the ability to protect the integrity of cell plasma membranes, enhancing the liver’s reparative and regenerative capacity, especially after high-dose administration (40 mg/kg).
The results of both experiments demonstrated the ability of M. pulegium extract and M. piperita essential oil to protect the liver from damage induced by an excess of free radicals. The mechanism is yet to be fully understood, but the doses required for satisfactory results are significantly high.
Further studies are needed on this matter so, we’ll need to wait a little longer to have more in-depth information…we will keep you updated!
FEDERICA AIELLO
