Mint can help fight cancer: CIMAP Researchers

Researchers at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) Lucknow discovered that mint plant has medicinal values that can cure cancer.

As per their research, a compound called L-Menthol derived from Mentha plant, commonly known as mint, can also be used in anti-cancer drugs.  

The research was published in international journal, OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology.

Key highlights of the research

• L-Menthol compound can kill the colon cancer cell line without affecting the normal cell line.

• Mentha compound inhibits the division of cancer cell and prevent its growth and spread to other organs of the body.

• Production of L-menthol is cost-effective, non-destructive and easily available in comparison to anti-cancer compound used at present obtained from the bark of European Yew tree.

• The Mentha is available in abundance across the world. While the European Yew tree is found only in Europe and some parts of Africa and Asia.

• Menthol can be derived easily without damaging the plant. On the other hand, the European Yew tree has to be cut down for using bark for deriving anti-cancer compound.

• The discovery can be very useful for farmers in India where Mentha is grown in large quantity.

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