Antiproliferative and (anti)hormonal activities of extracts and fractions obtained from some Mentha species

• Grant number: 11/14803-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Lúcia Tasca Gois Ruiz
• Grantee: Giovanna Francisco Fiorito
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The hormonal influence on cell growth has already been established. Many natural products could influence this process such as phytoestrogens and aromatase inhibtors. Epidemiologic studies suggested that consume of these kind of substances was positively correlated with chronic disease prevention, increasing the research of new treatments for hormone-related health problems.In this context, traditional uses and effects of Mentha (Lamiaceae) species also included abortifacient and contraceptive effects, lactation promotion, treatment of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhoea, and decreasing libido in men. Previous studies have pointed that the anti-androgenic effect observed may be correlated with the presence of phenolic compounds in these species.Besides, previous researches developed in our research group have demonstrated that Mentha extracts have an antiproliferative activity against hormone-dependent cancer cell lines such as breast and ovary. A similar antiproliferative profile for Mentha species were described in other studies that also suggested a possible positive correlation between phenolic compounds and antiproliferative activity.This way, the present project aims the evaluation of antiproliferative and hormonal/anti-hormonal acitvities of extracts, enriched fractions and isolated compounds obtained from some Mentha species cultivated in CPQBA experimental field, in order to evidence possible correlations among these activities and the chemical profile.