Investigation of biochemical and histopathological effects of Mentha piperita L. and Mentha spicata L. on kidney tissue in rats

Abstract

<jats:p> Peppermint plants have been used as a herbal medicine for many conditions, including loss of appetite, common cold, bronchitis, sinusitis, fever, nausea, vomiting and indigestion. This study is aimed at investigating the biochemical and histological effects of Mentha piperita L., growing in the Yenisar Bademli town of Isparta City, and Mentha spicata L., growing on the Anamas high plateau of Isparta City, on rat kidney tissue. Forty-eight male Wistar albino rats weighing 200 <jats:sup>/</jats:sup> 250 g were used for this study. Animals were divided into four experimental groups, each with 12 rats, as follows: control group (group I); 20 g/L M. piperita tea (group II); 20 g/L M. spicata tea (group III); 40 g/L M. spicata tea (group IV). The control group rats were given commercial drinking water (Hayat DANONESA water). The tea for the other groups was prepared daily and provided at all times to the rats during 30 days as drinking water. Plasma urea and creatinine levels were determined, and the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were studied in the homogenates of kidney tissue. The levels of plasma urea and creatinine were increased significantly (P B-0.0033) in groups III and IV when compared with group I. The activities of SOD and GSHPx were decreased significantly (P B-0.0033) in group IV when compared with group I. The activities of CAT were decreased significantly in groups III and IV (P B-0.033,P B-0.0033, respectively) when compared with group I. TBARS levels were increased significantly (P B-0.0033) in groups III and IV when compared with group I. In groups II, III and IV, hydropic degeneration of tubular epithelial cells, the epithelial cells with picnotic nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm, tubular dilatation and enlargements in Bowman capsules were observed histologically. However, in group II histopathological changes were more slight than in groups III and IV. In group IV, in addition to these changes, extremely hydropic degeneration of tubular epithelial cells, some atrophic tubules and glomerules, and focal mononuclear cell infiltrations in the kidney tissues of the rats were observed. In conclusion, the results indicate that M. piperita does not show nephrotoxicity but M. spicata presents markedly nephrotoxic changes in rats. </jats:p>

Mentha piperita effects on wistar rats plasma lipids

“…However, for this, studies would be needed to ascertain the ideal doses that could be used without harming the organism. Some studies with this herb have shown no alterations in urea, creatinine, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase levels and no nephrotoxicity, but may be related with decreased iron absorption rats (Akdogan et al, 2003(Akdogan et al, , 2004.…”

“…This indicates the pressing need for new studies to clarify the real effects of medicinal plants and to provide scientific evidence establishing their usefulness. Mentha piperita (Family Labiatae; genus Mentha) is one of the ten most widely used plants in Brazil (Cortez et al, 1999) and is commonly used in the treatment of loss of appetite, common cold, bronchitis, fever, nausea, vomiting (Akdogan et al, 2003), spasmodic responses (Lu et al, 2002), and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities (Romero-Jimenez et al, 2005;Mimica-Dukic et al, 2005). Due to the important role of high plasma lipids in the development of insulin resistance, atherogenesis and cardiovascular disease, and the widespread use of M. piperita as a complementary and alternative medicinal intervention, this study aimed to investigate the effects of tea and juice prepared with fresh peppermint leaves (which is how the population uses this plant) on Wistar rats plasma lipids.…”

Effect of oral administration of aqueous whole extract of Cassytha filiformis on haematograms and plasma biochemical parameters in rats

“…The aqueous whole plant extract did not affect the haematograms of the rats in a manner that would suggest adverse effects on their bone marrow, which is a source of recticulocytes. Some herbal remedies equally have hepato and nephro toxic effects [10,3]. Damage to these organs often results in the elevation of clinical chemistry parameters such as serum enzymes and analytes; some serum enzymes include aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and some analytes include total and conjugated bilirubin, urea, and creatinine [1,3,7,14].…”

“…Some herbal remedies equally have hepato and nephro toxic effects [10,3]. Damage to these organs often results in the elevation of clinical chemistry parameters such as serum enzymes and analytes; some serum enzymes include aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and some analytes include total and conjugated bilirubin, urea, and creatinine [1,3,7,14]. The significant reduction in alkaline phosphatase levels by administration of the aqueous extract shows that no possible cholestasis occurred at the dose levels tested since a rise in plasma ALP level is usually a characteristic finding in cholestatic liver disease [4].…”

Effects of <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i>, <i>Mentha piperita</i> and their Blend Teas Infusion on Serum Lipids of Wistar Rats

“…Likewise, Mentha piperita is one of the ten most widely used plants in several countries [6] and is commonly used in the treatment of loss of appetite, common cold, bronchitis, fever, nausea, vomiting [2], spasmodic responses [15], and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities [16,18].…”