Han Hyun-Ju, Hyun Chang-Gu
Jeju Inside Agency and Cosmetic Science Center, Department of Chemistry and Cosmetics, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea.
Life (Basel). 2025 Mar 7;15(3):418. doi: 10.3390/life15030418.
Traditional knowledge has long provided natural solutions for disease prevention and treatment, complementing modern medicine. (Korean mint) has been traditionally valued for its pesticidal, dehumidifying, anti-swelling, and detoxifying properties. This study explores its anti-inflammatory potential using extract (MJE) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and evaluates its safety for human skin applications. MJE significantly reduced inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E (PGE), and key cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in a dose-dependent manner. It also suppressed the expression of iNOS and COX-2, enzymes crucial for inflammation. Mechanistically, MJE inhibited NF-κB activation by stabilizing IκBα, thereby reducing inflammation-related gene expression. Additionally, it downregulated ERK, JNK, and p38 in the MAPK signaling pathway, further contributing to its anti-inflammatory effects. A primary skin irritation test confirmed MJE's safety, showing no significant skin reactions at 100 μg/mL. These findings highlight MJE's strong anti-inflammatory properties and potential for dermatological applications. This study underscores the pharmacological value of and its integration into modern scientific research, aligning with global biodiversity frameworks such as the Nagoya Protocol. Future research may further expand its applications in medicine and skincare.
传统知识长期以来一直为疾病预防和治疗提供天然解决方案，作为现代医学的补充。薄荷一直因其杀虫、除湿、消肿和解毒特性而受到传统重视。本研究使用薄荷提取物（MJE）在脂多糖刺激的RAW 264.7巨噬细胞中探索其抗炎潜力，并评估其在人类皮肤应用中的安全性。MJE以剂量依赖性方式显著降低了炎症介质，如一氧化氮（NO）、前列腺素E（PGE）和关键细胞因子（IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α）。它还抑制了iNOS和COX-2的表达，这两种酶对炎症至关重要。从机制上讲，MJE通过稳定IκBα抑制NF-κB激活，从而减少炎症相关基因的表达。此外，它下调了丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）信号通路中的ERK、JNK和p38，进一步增强了其抗炎作用。一项原发性皮肤刺激试验证实了MJE的安全性，在100μg/mL时未显示出明显的皮肤反应。这些发现突出了MJE强大的抗炎特性及其在皮肤病学应用中的潜力。本研究强调了薄荷的药理价值及其融入现代科学研究的情况，这与《名古屋议定书》等全球生物多样性框架相一致。未来的研究可能会进一步扩大其在医学和护肤品中的应用。
