| Related Articles |
Protective Effects of Mentha haplocalyx Ethanol Extract (MH) in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma.
Phytother Res. 2010 Nov 24;
Authors: Lee MY, Lee JA, Seo CS, Ha H, Lee NH, Shin HK
Mentha haplocalyx Briq., a commonly used herb in traditional Oriental medicine, has a variety of known pharmacological properties. However, neither the protective effects of Mentha haplocalyx ethanol extract (MH) against inflammation of the airway in an asthmatic model nor the mechanisms involved, have previously been reported. In the present study, an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model of allergic asthma was used to investigate whether MH was effective against the disease through regulation of airway inflammation. The MH treatment significantly inhibited increases in immunoglobulin (Ig) E and T-helper 2 (Th2)-type cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue. Inflammatory cell infiltration of the airway in mice treated with MH was effectively alleviated when compared with infiltration seen in the OVA-induced group. These data indicated that decreased cytokine levels are the result of the decreased number of invaded leukocytes. Also, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in BALF was diminished by MH treatment. Taken together, these findings indicate that the administration of MH may have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of inflammatory disease. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 21108485 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
View full post on pubmed: asthma
Mentha haplocalyx is more commonly known as corn mint, a close relative to peppermint and spearmint, and a member of the mint family of flowering plants, which also includes familiar herbs like basil and rosemary. There is anecdotal evidence that drinking peppermint tea can help with asthma and the active ingredient is said to be a compound called rosmarinic acid. This study, from Korea, adds more of a scientific basis to these observation. The findings are strengthened by the use of what appears to be a sound animal model of asthma. The Mentha haplocalyx extract will contain many different compounds and careful chemical analysis would be needed to find out if rosmarinic acid is one of them. There’s not enough in this study to recommend mint tea as a remedy for asthma – but, on the other hand, it wont’ do any harm either.
Thanks Susan!