What Is Spearmint? Other Names: Curled Mint, Fish Mint, Mentha spicata

What is Spearmint?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) is a perennial herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family, widely recognized for its aromatic properties and extensive use in culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic applications. This article explores the various aspects of spearmint, including its allelopathic activity, cognitive benefits, anti-androgenic properties, and safety profile. Other names include: Curled Mint, Fish Mint, Garden Mint, Green Mint, Hierbabuena, Huile Essentielle de Menthe Verte, Lamb Mint, Mackerel Mint, Menta Verde, Mentha cordifolia, Mentha crispa, Mentha spicata, Mentha viridis, Menthe Verte, Menthe Crépue, Menthe Douce, Menthe à Épis, Menthe Frisée, Menthe des Jardins, Menthe Romaine, Native Spearmint, Oil of Spearmint, Our Lady’s Mint, Pahari Pudina, Putiha, Sage of Bethlehem, Spearmint Essential Oil, Spire Mint, Yerba Buena, Yerbabuena.

Allelopathic Activity

Spearmint exhibits allelopathic properties, which can influence the growth and yield of subsequent crops. A study investigating the effects of spearmint in crop rotation systems found that its inclusion negatively impacted the growth and yield of maize. Specifically, maize plants in a spearmint-maize rotation system showed reduced plant height, dry biomass, photosynthetic rate, and grain yield compared to a fallow-maize rotation system. These effects are attributed to the allelopathic activity of spearmint, which can inhibit plant growth and reduce crop productivity1.

Cognitive Benefits

Spearmint extract has been shown to improve cognitive performance, particularly in individuals with age-associated memory impairment (AAMI). In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, participants who consumed 900 mg/day of spearmint extract for 90 days demonstrated significant improvements in working memory and spatial working memory accuracy. Additionally, the extract improved sleep quality and mood, suggesting that spearmint may be a beneficial nutritional intervention for cognitive health in older adults2. Another study confirmed these cognitive benefits, showing that chronic supplementation with spearmint extract improved sustained and complex attention in young, active individuals10.

Anti-Androgenic Properties

Spearmint has demonstrated anti-androgenic effects, particularly beneficial for individuals with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Research indicates that spearmint tea can reduce androgen levels, which may help alleviate hirsutism, a common symptom of PCOS. This reduction in androgen levels translates to clinical improvements in the degree of hirsutism, making spearmint a potential natural remedy for managing PCOS symptoms3 6.

Safety and Tolerability

The safety and tolerability of spearmint extract have been evaluated in several studies. A 90-day randomized clinical trial assessed the safety of a dried aqueous spearmint extract standardized to rosmarinic acid. The study found no significant adverse effects on vital signs, plasma chemistry, or blood hematology values. Additionally, there were no severe adverse events reported, indicating that spearmint extract is safe and well-tolerated under the conditions tested5.

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Adverse Effects of Spearmint

Reproductive and Developmental Effects

Female Reproductive System: Studies on female rats have shown that spearmint can cause significant harmful effects on the ovaries, including atrophy of antral and Graafian follicles, and corpora lutea, along with decreased serum progesterone levels. This can lead to decreased body weight and altered ovarian morphology and histology1 2.

Pregnancy and Neonatal Development: In pregnant rats, spearmint extract led to decreased body weight, atrophied ovarian structures, and reduced uterine layer thickness. Neonates exhibited degenerative changes in renal and hepatic tissues, decreased weight, and shorter crown-rump length1.

Embryo Hepatotoxicity: Spearmint extract administered to pregnant mice resulted in vacuolization and necrosis in the livers of their pups, indicating potential hepatotoxic effects on embryos5.

Male Reproductive System

Sperm and Testosterone Levels: In male rats, spearmint extract did not significantly affect body or reproductive tissue weights but showed a trend towards reduced sperm count, motility, and serum testosterone levels. However, these changes were not statistically significant, and no severe histopathological changes were observed in reproductive tissues6.

General Toxicity and Safety

Human Studies: A clinical trial in humans found that a dried aqueous spearmint extract standardized to rosmarinic acid was safe and well-tolerated, with no significant adverse effects on vital signs, blood chemistry, or hormone levels over a 90-day period3.

Allelopathic Effects

Agricultural Impact: Spearmint has allelopathic properties that can negatively affect the growth and yield of succeeding crops like maize. This includes reduced plant height, dry biomass, photosynthetic rate, and grain yield4.

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How has Spearmint Improved Patient Outcomes?

Knee Osteoarthritis

Pain Reduction: High-rosmarinic acid spearmint tea significantly decreased pain scores over 16 weeks compared to a control group1.

Improved Quality of Life: Participants consuming high-rosmarinic acid spearmint tea reported improved quality of life, particularly in the bodily pain index1.

Physical Function: Both high-rosmarinic acid and commercial spearmint teas improved stiffness and physical disability scores1.

Age-Associated Memory Impairment

Cognitive Performance: Supplementation with spearmint extract improved working memory and spatial working memory accuracy in individuals with age-associated memory impairment2.

Sleep and Mood: Participants reported better sleep quality and improvements in mood, including increased vigor and reduced total mood disturbance2.

Hypertensive Glaucoma

Neuronal Health: Spearmint extract improved retinal ganglion cell density, neurotrophin levels, and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model of hypertensive glaucoma3.

Electroretinogram Responses: Enhanced retinal responses were observed, indicating better neuronal function3.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Endocrine and Ovarian Health: A combination of spearmint and flaxseed extracts improved hormone levels, reduced cystic follicles, and enhanced ovarian histomorphology in a rat model of PCOS4.

Anti-Androgen Effects: Spearmint tea demonstrated anti-androgenic properties, potentially reducing hirsutism in women with PCOS5.

Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy (NVP)

Symptom Reduction: Pomegranate and spearmint syrup significantly reduced the severity of nausea and vomiting compared to vitamin B6 alone in pregnant women6.

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Spearmint Mechanisms of Action

Cognitive Benefits

Spearmint extract, rich in polyphenols like rosmarinic acid, has been shown to improve cognitive performance, particularly in individuals with age-associated memory impairment (AAMI). Supplementation with spearmint extract significantly improved working memory and spatial working memory accuracy. Additionally, it enhanced sleep quality and mood, suggesting a broad impact on cognitive health and overall well-being1.

Anti-Androgenic Effects

Spearmint has demonstrated significant anti-androgenic properties, particularly beneficial for conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Studies have shown that spearmint tea can reduce androgen levels, which helps alleviate symptoms such as hirsutism in women with PCOS. This reduction in androgen levels translates to clinical improvements in the degree of hirsutism2 3.

Allelopathic Activity

Spearmint also exhibits allelopathic activity, which can affect the growth and yield of subsequent crops. When included in crop rotation systems, spearmint has been found to negatively impact the growth, physiological characteristics, and yield of maize. This inhibitory effect is likely due to the allelopathic compounds released by spearmint, which can reduce plant height, biomass, photosynthetic rate, and grain yield in succeeding crops4.

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Common Complaints Associated with Spearmint Use

Cognitive and Mood Effects

Positive Effects: Spearmint extract has been shown to improve working memory and spatial working memory accuracy in individuals with age-associated memory impairment (AAMI). Participants consuming 900 mg/day of spearmint extract reported a 15% improvement in working memory and a 9% improvement in spatial working memory accuracy compared to placebo1.

Mood and Sleep: Participants also reported improvements in their ability to fall asleep and overall mood, including increased vigor-activity and reduced total mood disturbance1.

Adverse Effects

Lack of Reported Adverse Effects: The study did not report any significant adverse effects or complaints associated with the use of spearmint extract. This suggests that spearmint extract, at the dosages used in the study (up to 900 mg/day), is generally well-tolerated by individuals with AAMI1.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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