Amazing: this green leaf is a goldmine of health for our body - voila! health

This is how to clean a dirty pan with a tea bag (lynsey_queenofclean/Instagram)

A "genetic gold mine" of peppermint leaves could be the key to future drugs, according to new research published in the journal Nature Communications.

This family of herbs includes more than just mint, and includes sage, rosemary, basil, and more.

The team of researchers from Michigan State University say that thanks to evolution, this plant family contains genes that can benefit human health in various ways.

"It is easy to characterize the mint family due to their special metabolites," the researchers explain, "metabolites are an effective way for plants to protect themselves because they cannot escape. For millions of years, plants have adapted and evolved in the specific niches in which they thrive and survive, and this means that this chemistry is diverse." .

Since 2016, Prof. Bjorn Hamburger from the College of Natural Sciences at the university has been researching special metabolites in plants called terpenoids, which are essential in protecting plants from predators and pathogens and are also common ingredients in green and sustainable agrochemicals, antioxidants, cosmetics and fragrance.

gold mine.

Mint (Photo: ShutterStock)

What is hidden in mint?

The team of researchers sequenced the genomes of several mint plants.

They found that the mint family has evolved over the past 60 to 70 million years, with many cultivars now containing a large gene cluster.

"Therefore, we are trying to identify and discover pathways for these special metabolites that plants produce," said Prof. Hamburger.

He said that mint has a large biosynthetic gene cluster.

A BGC is a group of genes located close to each other in the genome, involved in the same metabolic pathways.

These genes are like the individual pearls on a necklace - separate yet connected.

Variants of BGC have been found in six other species in the mint family.

"We are learning that the physical location of genes within the genome is important. This can drive the development of special metabolic pathways in the plant, which leads to a huge variety of interesting natural plant compounds."

More in Walla!

These are perhaps the healthiest leaves to put in your tea

To the full article

What can you do with mint?

BCG is a common sight in the bacterial world, but researchers say their role in plants is still unclear.

The new study found that the BCG cluster carries genes encoding two separate terpenoid pathways.

The terpenoids accumulate in multiple areas of mint plants, including the leaves and roots.

The authors of the study believe that these metabolites may play a key role in how these plants adapt to their environment.

Previous studies have succeeded in turning peppermint plants into useful medicines, such as the one used as a natural treatment for glaucoma.

Hamburger's team says their genetic findings open the door to further medical breakthroughs, from new drugs to pesticides to antimicrobials.

• health

• Nutrition and diet

• Preventive nutrition

Tags

• mint

• Herbs

• tea