Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar 4741695447, Iran.
University Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54600, Pakistan.
Molecules. 2021 Feb 20;26(4):1118. doi: 10.3390/molecules26041118.
Medicinal plants and their derived compounds have drawn the attention of researchers due to their considerable impact on human health. Among medicinal plants, mint ( 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. 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 , , , 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.
药用植物及其衍生化合物因其对人类健康的巨大影响而引起了研究人员的关注。在药用植物中，薄荷（属）因其抗氧化潜力，结合低毒性和高效性，表现出多种有益健康的特性，如预防癌症发展和肥胖、抗菌、抗炎、抗糖尿病和心脏保护作用。薄荷属植物被广泛用于美味菜肴、食品、饮料和糖果产品。薄荷衍生的植物化学物质也显示出对不同类型人类癌症的抗癌活性，如宫颈癌、肺癌、乳腺癌等。薄荷精油通过调节 MAPK 和 PI3k/Akt 通路表现出强大的细胞毒性潜力；它们还诱导癌细胞系凋亡，抑制侵袭和迁移潜力，同时阻止细胞周期，上调 Bax 和 p53 基因，调节 TNF、IL-6、IFN-γ、IL-8，并诱导衰老表型。薄荷精油还被发现对 、 、 等具有抗菌活性。本综述重点介绍了薄荷衍生化合物和精油的抗菌作用，特别强调了这些多功能植物的抗癌活性、临床数据和不良反应。
