Essential oil of Spearmint obtained from the aerial part of Mentha spicata and/or Mentha cardiaca (Lamiaceae) obtained by distillation

Additional toxicological data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

additional toxicological information

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

No data available

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Remarks:

The experiment conducted is presented concise but clear in the publication. Test results are well-documented and the different assays performed are described extensively.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Attenuation of benzoyl peroxide-mediated cutaneous oxidative stress and hyperproliferative response by the prophylactic treatment of mice with spearmint (Mentha spicata)

Author:

Saleem, Alam, Sultana

Year:

2000

Bibliographic source:

Food and Chemical Toxicoloy 38 (2000) 939-948

Materials and methods

Type of study / information:

Not relevant

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Female Swiss albino mice (8 weeks old) were housed under standard conditions with unlimited access to food and water. The dorsal skin was shaved at least 2 days before treatment with spearmint. Mice of approximately the same weight were randomly allocated to six groups of six mice each. Three groups were treated on the dorsal skin with benzoyl peroxide (free radical; BPO) in combination with different concentrations of spearmint as a profylaxe. BPO is used to induce oxidative stress and hyperproliferative stimulus in the skin (tumor promotion), while spearmint is assumed to be an inhibitor of these effects. One group was treated with acetone (control) and one with spearmint only. Mice pretreated with spearmint were injected with [3h]thymidine 16 hours after treatment and sacrificed by cervical dislocation 2 hours later. Mice not pretreated with spearmint were sacrificed after 16 hours without injection. The skin was removed quickly and processed for subcellular fractionation by the method of Raza et al. (1995). Several assays for primarily enzyme acitivity were performed accordingly to determine the degree of damage to the mouse skin induced by BPO.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Essential oil of Spearmint obtained from the aerial part of Mentha spicata and/or Mentha cardiaca (Lamiaceae) obtained by distillation

EC Number:

946-253-9

Molecular formula:

Not applicable

IUPAC Name:

Essential oil of Spearmint obtained from the aerial part of Mentha spicata and/or Mentha cardiaca (Lamiaceae) obtained by distillation

Test material form:

solid - liquid: suspension

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Mentha spicata (spearmint)
- Substance type: Essential oil
- Physical state: Liquid
- Analytical purity: No data available
- Lot/batch No.: No data available
- Radiochemical purity (if radiolabelling): No data available
- Specific activity (if radiolabelling): No data available
- Stability under test conditions: No data available

Specific details on test material used for the study:

spearmint oil
Spearmint, ext. (Mentha spicata L.)
EC 283-656-2
CAS 84696-51-5
Oil of spearmint - Native type
Oil of spearmint - Indian type

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

In all assays the treatment of mice with spearmint alone showed a non-significant difference as compared to the control group. Enzyme activities and reduced glutathion were upregulated, while ODC activity, DNA synthesis, lipid peroxidation and the hydrogen peroxide concentration were downregulated. The pretreatment of mice in combination with BPO treatment showed a dose-related reduction of the damage caused by BPO. An overview of the effects is presented in the table below:

Results of the assays performed (+ = upregulation, - = downregulation, 0 = control, +/- = no difference)
Treatment group	Reduced glutathione	Glutathione S-transferase	Glutathione reductase	Catalase	Gluthatione peroxidase	Glucose 6-phosphatase dehydrogenase	ODC activity induction	DNA synthesis	Lipid peroxidation	Hydrogen peroxide
Acetone	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Spearmint alone	+	+	+	+	+	+	-	-	-	-
BPO only	-	-	-	-	-	-	+	+	+	+
Low dose spearmint + BPO	-	-	-	-	-	-	+	+	+	+
Medium dose spearmint + BPO	-	-	-	-	-	-	+	+	+	+
High dose spearmint + BPO	+/-	-	-	-	+/-	-	+	+	+/-	+

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Treatment of mice skin with Mentha spicata showed to downregulate, hydrogen peroxide concentration, ODC activity, DNA synthesis and lipid peroxidation in processed tissue. Additionally, it was shown that the glutathion concentration and the activity of glutathion S-transferase, glutathion reductase, catalase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathion peroxidase was upregulated. Spearmint may be a dose-related chemopreventive agent and may offer protection against BPO-mediated cutaneous toxicity in mice.

Executive summary:

Female Swiss albino mice (8 weeks old) were housed under standard conditions with unlimited access to food and water. The dorsal skin was shaved at least 2 days before treatment with spearmint. Mice of approximately the same weight were randomly allocated to six groups of six mice each. Three groups were treated on the dorsal skin with benzoyl peroxide (free radical; BPO) in combination with different concentrations of spearmint as a profylaxe. BPO is used to induce oxidative stress and hyperproliferative stimulus in the skin (tumor promotion), while spearmint is assumed to be an inhibitor of these effects. One group was treated with acetone (control) and one with spearmint only. Mice pretreated with spearmint were injected with [3h]thymidine 16 hours after treatment and sacrificed by cervical dislocation 2 hours later. Mice not pretreated with spearmint were sacrificed after 16 hours without injection. The skin was removed quickly and processed for subcellular fractionation by the method of Raza et al. (1995). Several assays for primarily enzyme acitivity were performed accordingly to determine the degree of damage to the mouse skin induced by BPO.

In all assays the treatment of mice with spearmint alone showed a non-significant difference as compared to the control group. This is illustrated by the fact that mouse Mentha spicata showed to downregulate, hydrogen peroxide concentration, ODC activity, DNA synthesis and lipid peroxidation in processed tissue. Additionally, it was shown that the glutathion concentration and glutathion S-transferase, glutathion reductase, catalase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathion peroxidase activity was upregulated. Spearmint may be a dose-related chemopreventive agent and may offer protection against BPO-mediated cutaneous toxicity in mice.