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Mint oil ( Mentha spicata Linn.) offers behavioral radioprotection: a radiation‐induced conditioned taste aversion study
Author(s) -
Haksar A.,
Sharma A.,
Chawla R.,
Kumar Raj,
Lahiri S. S.,
Islam F.,
Arora M. P.,
Sharma R. K.,
Tripathi R. P.,
Arora Rajesh
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.2604
Subject(s) - mentha spicata , saccharin , taste aversion , pharmacology , taste , medicine , avoidance response , traditional medicine , essential oil , chemistry , food science
Mentha spicata Linn. (mint), a herb well known for its gastroprotective properties in the traditional system of medicine has been shown to protect against radiation‐induced lethality, and recently its constituents have been found to possess calcium channel antagonizing properties. The present study examined the behavioral radioprotective efficacy of mint oil (obtained from Mentha spicata ), particularly in mitigating radiation‐induced conditioned taste aversion (CTA), which has been proposed as a behavioral endpoint that is mediated by the toxic effects of gamma radiation on peripheral systems, primarily the gastrointestinal system in the Sprague‐Dawley rat model. Intraperitoneal administration of Mentha spicata oil 10% (v/v), 1 h before 2 Gy gamma radiation, was found to render significant radioprotection against CTA ( p < 0.05), by blocking the saccharin avoidance response within 5 post‐treatment observational days, with the highest saccharin intake being observed on day 5. This finding clearly demonstrates that gastroprotective and calcium channel antagonizing properties of Mentha spicata can be effectively utilized in preventing radiation‐induced behavioral changes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.