Guelph researchers have developed and characterized a mint variety that produces very high levels of rosmarinic acid, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Past research has shown that rosmarinic acid is useful in treating allergies in humans¹, but previously no cultivated plant produced rosmarinic acid in levels high enough to be used as a treatment in plant form. The University of Guelph mint produces enough rosmarinic acid to be effective as a tea, enabling possible allergy treatment via a functional food.

The mint can also be grown as a source of purified rosmarinic acid, since it is easy to cultivate and produces high quantities.

• Natural health remedies
• Pharmaceutical application
• Dermatological applications
• Food preservative/antioxidant

Partners are being sought.

References:

1. Exp Biol Med 2004 229:247–254

• Very high levels of rosmarinic acid in planta
• Low-cost source of rosmarinic acid
• Not transgenic
• Can be grown outdoors in temperate climates
• New functional food (tea) to treat allergy