A new research has suggested that Brazilian mint or hyptis crenata can lessen pain as efficiently as leading medicines.

In Brazil, hyptis crenata is known as a traditional remedy to treat various problems from headaches and stomach pain to fever and flu.

Now scientists at Newcastle University said that they have methodically tested the pain-relieving properties of Brazilian mint for the first time.

The researchers conducted experiments on mice to study the properties of this ancient South American herb.

The study led by researcher Graciela Rocha suggested that when hyptis crenata will be prepared as a 'tea', it will be as effectual as a synthetic aspirin-style drug 'Indometacin'.

Now, the scientists have decided to begin clinical examinations to discover how effectual the mint is as a pain reliever for people.

Graciela said, "Since humans first walked the earth we have looked to plants to provide a cure for our ailments - in fact it is estimated more than 50,000 plants are used worldwide for medicinal purposes."

"Besides traditional use, more than half of all prescription drugs are based on a molecule that occurs naturally in a plant.

"What we have done is to take a plant that is widely used to safely treat pain and scientifically proven that it works as well as some synthetic drugs. Now the next step is to find out how and why the plant works," Graciela added.

The research has been presented during the 2nd International Symposium on Medicinal and Nutraceutical Plants in New Delhi, India.

It will appear in the society's journal 'Acta Horticulturae'.