Pharmacological Evaluation of Mentha spicata L. and Plantago major L., Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Anxiety and Insomnia in Colombian Caribbean Coast

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, chronic, and disabling conditions that impose enormous health and economic costs both on individuals and on society. Medicinal plants are an invaluable source of bioactive metabolites that can be useful as new pharmacological treatment. Teas from Mentha spicata and Plantago major are employed by Colombian populations to treat stress and insomnia. This work was conducted to evaluate their anxiolytic and hypnotic properties. For this, we employed the Elevated Plus-Maze test and the sodium pentobarbital-induced hypnosis method using Wistar rats. Oral administration of M. spicata extract (1000 mg/Kg) significantly increased the exploration and time spent in the open arms, which indicates its anxiolytic activity. On the other hand, both M. spicata and P. major extracts (1000 mg/Kg) remarkably augmented the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital, suggesting a sedative and hypnotic effect of the plants extracts. In addition, the acute toxicological study demonstrated that the doses used did not induce mortality or toxicity effects at hepatic or renal level. The bioactivity seems to be related to several kinds of constituents, mainly phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and tannins. In conclusion, these results reinforce the potential use of these species in the therapy of anxiety.

Anxiolytic and Sedative Activities of Methanol Extract of Solanum aethiopicum (Linn.) Fruits in Swiss Mice

“…The outcome signified anxiolytic activity and is comparable to the outcome of other investigations. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] The staircase test experiment is primarily designed to test for both anxiolytic and sedative properties of a medicinal plant. Parameters such as decreased in frequency of rearing without affecting steps climbing signify anxiolytic activity.…”

Potential Role of Phenolic Extracts of Mentha in Managing Oxidative Stress and Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Exposure to 0.54, 5.4, and 53.8 mg/mL aqueous extract of M. × piperita for 24 h reduced the viability of Tetrahymena pyriformi cells in a dose-dependent manner [ 132 ]. The acute oral administration of 1000 mg/kg aqueous extract of M. spicata did not cause mortality, neurological alterations in rats, or changes in their normal behavior [ 133 ]. A histological analysis revealed no toxic effects at the hepatic or renal levels [ 133 ].…”

“…The acute oral administration of 1000 mg/kg aqueous extract of M. spicata did not cause mortality, neurological alterations in rats, or changes in their normal behavior [ 133 ]. A histological analysis revealed no toxic effects at the hepatic or renal levels [ 133 ]. On the other hand, the chronic administration of 20 g/L M. piperita tea to rats (drinking at all times) during 30 days did not show signs of nephrotoxicity but induced hepatic damage and hormonal changes; however, 20 or 40 g/L M. spicata tea changed both the kidney and liver functions as well as the hormonal levels [ 134 , 135 , 136 ].…”

“…Considering the proportion of a human body weight to that of a rat, Akdogan, Kilinç, Oncu, Karaoz and Delibas [ 134 ] precluded a risk of nephrotoxicity of M. spicata tea. Neves [ 132 ] recommended a moderate human intake of M. × piperita , and Caro, Rivera, Ocampo, Franco and Salas [ 133 ] indicated the safety of M. spicata . Although the extensive use of Mentha extracts as herbal medicines implies their safety, the further evaluation of their potential adverse effects is essential.…”

Biological features of the medicinal plant Plantago major L.

“…Same year, in Columbia at the University of Cartagena Karo D.S. studied the healing properties of anxiety and insomnia of a large plantain [16], in Mashhad Medical University in Iran Enezar H.N. studied the protective effect of P. major on liver inflammation caused by daxorubin [17].…”