French spearmint was imported into Vietnam in 1996 and cultivated in Ha Noi. In the first year, it was cultivated by seeds and since the second year it has been planted by stolons. Every year, planting is done in February – March and the crop reaches full blooming in June. The Russian cultivar is also cultivated in Sa Pa (Lao Cai province). Both samples of Mentha spicata essential oil were analyzed by GC/RI, GC/MS and 13C-NMR. In total, 39 compounds have been identified, 28 in the first sample, 31 in the second.
Plants ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; oils

OBJECTIVETo investigate the constituents of anti-inflammatory and hemostatic active sites of Mentha spicata.

METHODChemical constituents were separated by solvent method and chromatography and identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic methods.

RESULTThe structures were identified as ursane I, 3-methoxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde II, veratric acid III, 5-hydroxy-3',4',6,7-tetramethoxyflavone IV, diosmetin(V), thymonin VI, daucosterol VII.

CONCLUSIONAmong them, compounds I, II, III were first obtained from M. genus, IV, VI were separated from M. spicta for the first time.

Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Vanillic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Mentha spicata.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, and identified by physical and chemical characters and spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTCompounds I - V were obtained and their structures were elucidated as protocatechuic aldehyde (I), protocatechuic acid (II), chrysoeriol (III), 5, 6-dihydroxy-7, 8, 3', 4'-tetramethoxyflavone (IV), nodifloretin (V).

CONCLUSIONCompound I and II were first isolated from the genus Mentha. Compound Ill, IV and V were isolated from M. spicata for the first time.

Benzaldehydes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Catechols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Spearmint oil on inflammation, oxidative alteration and Nrf2 expression in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).

METHODSCOPD model was induced by intratracheal instillation of Klebsiella pneumonia and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 12 weeks in rats, and COPD rats were treated with Spearmint oil for 3 weeks. After COPD was induced, the pathological changes, changes in leucocyte number in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), MDA in lung homogenate and Nrf2 expression were observed. The effects of Spearmint oil on these changes were determined.

RESULTSpearmint oil 100 mg*kg(-1)significantly reduced leucocyte numbers in BALF, and attenuated bronchiolitis, pulmonary interstitial inflammation and inflammation cell infiltration. Spearmint oil 30-300 mg*kg(-1)decreased the destruction of pulmonary alveolus and the thickness of bronchioles walls, and inhibited goblet cell proliferation. Spearmint oil significantly reduced MDA in lung homogenate, and decreased the expression of Nrf2 protein in lung tissues.

CONCLUSIONSpearmint oil has protective effect on lung injury in COPD rats, since it improves pulmonary inflammation,oxidative alteration, and enhances Nrf2 protein expression.

Animals ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of spearmint oil on emphysema-like changes and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-9) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated rats.

METHODEmphysematous changes model was induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS once a week for up to 8 weeks in rats. Rats were divided into control, dexamethasone (0.3 mg x kg(-1)), and spearmint oil (10, 30,100 mg x kg(-1)) groups. Each group was treated with saline, dexamethasone, and spearmint of oil respectively for 4 weeks. Then total and different white blood cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were carried out. The pathologic changes of lung tissue such as alveolar structure, airway inflammation, and goblet cell metaplasia were observed by HE and AB-PAS staining. Expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, TIMP-1 and MMP-9 were measured.

RESULTBoth spearmint and dexamethasone decreased the destruction of pulmonary alveolus. The total and different white blood cell counts in BALF including neutrophile and lymphocyte of spearmint oil 100 mg x kg(-1) and dexamethasone group were significantly reduced, and the goblet cell metaplasia was also inhibited. Dexamethasone had inhibitory effect on the expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, TIMP-1 and MMP-9. Spearmint oil 30, 100 mg x kg(-1) significantly reduced TNF-alpha and IL-1beta respectively. Spearmint oil 10, 30 and 100 mg x kg(-1) had no effect on the expression of TIMP-1, but could decrease the expression of MMP-9 significantly in lung tissues.

CONCLUSIONSpearmint oil has protective effect on rats with emphysematous changes, since it improves alveolar destruction, pulmonary inflammation, and goblet cell metaplasia. The mechanism may include reducing TNF-alpha, IL-1beta content and inhibiting overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in lung tissues.

Animals ; Azo Compounds ; pharmacology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Goblet Cells ; drug effects ; Interleukin-1beta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Leukocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; Metaplasia ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Oils ; therapeutic use ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Rats ; Respiratory System ; drug effects ; pathology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; drug effects ; metabolism