Research Article

Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism†

  1. Mehmet Akdoğan1,
  2. Mehmet Numan Tamer2,*,
  3. Erkan Cüre2,
  4. Medine Cumhur Cüre1,
  5. Banu Kale Köroğlu2,
  6. Namik Delibaş1

Article first published online: 20 FEB 2007

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2074

Issue

Phytotherapy Research

Phytotherapy Research

Volume 21, Issue 5, pages 444–447, May 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Akdoğan, M., Tamer, M. N., Cüre, E., Cüre, M. C., Köroğlu, B. K. and Delibaş, N. (2007), Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytother. Res., 21: 444–447. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2074

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

  2. 2

    Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, School of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

*Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 32260 Isparta, Turkey.

  1. †

    Both collaborators contributed to the work in the same percentage.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 APR 2007
  2. Article first published online: 20 FEB 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 1 NOV 2006
  4. Manuscript Received: 4 APR 2006

Funded by

  • FOFOI-IMSS. Grant Number: 2002/097

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Keywords:

  • Mentha spicata; androgens;
  • hirsutism;
  • women

Abstract

Mentha spicata Labiatae, known as spearmint and Mentha piperita Labiatae, known as peppermint can be used for various kinds of illnesses in herbal medicine and flavoring in industry. M. spicata Labiatae grows on the Anamas plateau of Yeniþarbademli town of Isparta, located in southwest part of Turkey. In this town, clinicians thought that consumption of tea steeped with M. spicata or M. piperita caused a diminished libido. Because antiandrogenic effects of spearmint and peppermint were found previously in rats, it was decided to observe the effect of this herbal tea on the androgen levels in hirsute women.

Twenty-one female hirsute patients, 12 with polycystic ovary syndrome and 9 with idiopathic hirsutism were included to the study. They were took a cup of herbal tea which was steeped with M. spicata for 5 days twice a day in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycles. After treatment with spearmint teas, there was a significant decrease in free testosterone and increase in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol. There were no significant decreases in total testosterone or dehydroepiandrostenedione sulphate levels. Spearmint can be an alternative to antiandrogenic treatment for mild hirsutism. Further studies are needed to test the reliability of these results and the availability of spearmint as a drug for hirsutism. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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