(Organic Slant) Peppermint holds promise as a potent herb against cancer and the effects of radiation. Research has shown that certain varieties of mint have properties that help defend against cancer and damaging radiation.
Mentha piperita (peppermint) is native to the Mediterranean and nutrient rich. The fresh herb contains ample amounts of vitamin A, C, B12, K, along with folic acid, thiamine, and riboflavin. Mint also provides many essential minerals such as calcium, copper, fluoride, iron, potassium, selenium, and zinc. The essential oils found in mint include menthol, menthone, and menthol acetate.
According to a study in 2010, liquid extracts of peppermint were shown to protect the gastrointestinal and hemopoietic systems from radiation. The healing properties in the extract are found to be metal chelating, antimutagenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Additionally, DNA repair processes are enhanced. Tumors of the pancreas and liver are particularly vulnerable to the bio-active components of peppermint. Cancers of the skin, lung, and colon are also inhibited by this herb.
Irrespective of the plant species, the phytochemicals present in the various species of Mentha are the same while their ratios may alter. Mint plants contain over 40 distinct chemical compounds.
The essential oil of peppermint is mostly made up of menthol, menthone, menthyl esters, 3-carene, carvone, cis-carane, cis-pinane, isomenthone, limonene, menthanol, myrcene, and the monoterpene derivatives pulegone, piperitone, menthofuran, trans-cinnamic acid, oleanolic acid, p-cymene, physcion, terpinolene, and urosolic acid.
Among all available experimental assays, animal survival as the end point is the most confirmatory in radioprotective studies. Although these studies have been with mice they have validated mint’s clinical applicability to humans. These studies have shown mint to have the following Radiprotective potential and anti-inflammatory effects:
- Mint Protects against the Radiation-Induced Hemopoetic Syndrome of the lymphohematopoietic elements, which are among the highly replicating tissues and are the most radiosensitive life-supporting organs.
- Mint Protects against the Radiation-Induced Gastrointestinal Syndrome caused by ionizing radiation from scatter radiation when treating for cancer of the colon, rectum, prostate, and other closely linked sites.
- Mint mitigates Radiation-Induced Behavioral Perturbations such as emesis, conditioned taste aversion, performance decrement, learning and memory impairment.
- Mint reduces the Radiation-Induced Testicular Damage in protecting against the deleterious effects of ionizing radiation.
- Mint possess Anti-mutagenic Effects and increases DNA Repair
- Mint decreases Radiation-Induced Lipid Peroxidation.
- Mint restores Glutathione levels.
- Mint increases Levels of Antioxidant Enzymes.
- Mint significantly reduces Serum Phosphatases.
Conclusions of studies by the Department of Radiation Oncology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, India, included the following:
- Considerable information from pre-clinical studies suggests the usefulness of mint in preventing the toxic effects of ionizing radiation at non-toxic concentrations.
- The radioprotective effects of mint is very high for any plant reported to possess radioprotective effects.
- Both polar and non-polar fractions are effective in preventing radiation-induced sickness and lethality suggesting that mint contains both polar and non-polar compounds with radioprotective effects.
- Mint can be used as a radiation countermeasure in the management of radiological/nuclear incidents e.g., for the protection of defense personnel from nuclear weapon radiations; for protecting reactor workers and rescue crew; protection of astronauts from exposure to space radiation; protection of embryos against maternal exposure during pregnancy; protection against radiation-induced genomic instability, and radiation carcinogenesis.
In another study, researchers at the University of Salfordfound that the extract of Scutellaria barbata (Skullcap barbat) starves tumors. It attacks the blood vessels feeding the tumor, blocking the availability of oxygen and nutrients that allow tumors to grow. The extract is very selective in targeting only blood vessels associated with the tumor, leaving normal vessels that feed healthy tissue unharmed. As noted by a spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK, “Scutellaria barbata has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat several illnesses including certain types of cancer.” Scutellaria barbata is a member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family of botanicals and is native to China.
Whether seeking to alleviate the discomfort of IBS or protection against cancer and radiation, mint provides a simple, effective, and time-honored solution.