Aishwarya Balakrishnan /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol.
7(7), 2015, 474-476
Therapeutic Uses of Peppermint –A Review
Aishwarya Balakrishnan,
Saveetha Dental College,Chennai-77
Abstract:
Peppermint (Mentha piperita, also known as M. balsamea Willd), is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and
spearmint. The plant, indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, is now widespread in cultivation in many regions
of the world. It is found wild occasionally with its parent species. The concentrated oil of peppermint has a high
menthol content. The oil also contains menthone and menthyl esters, particularly menthyl acetate. Dried
peppermint typically has volatile oil containing menthol, menthone , menthyl acetate ,menthofuran and 1,8-cineol.
Peppermint oil also contains small amounts of many additional compounds including limonene, pulegone,
caryophyllene and pinene. According to the German Commission E monographs, peppermint oil (as well as
peppermint leaf) has been used internally as an antispasmodic (upper gastrointestinal tract and bile ducts) and to
treat irritable bowel syndrome, catarrh of the respiratory tract, and inflammation of the oral mucosa. Externally,
peppermint oil has been used for myalgia and neuralgia. According to Commission E, peppermint oil may also act
as a carminative, cholagogue, antibacterial, and secretolytic, and it has a cooling action. Enteric-coated
peppermint oil capsules (Colpermin) have been used as an orally administered antispasmodic premedication in
colonoscopy.
Key Words : Mentha piperita, peppermint, menthone.
INTRODUCTION: important aromatic and medicinal crops produced in the
Peppermint or mentha piperta is a common herb that is U.S. The world production of peppermint oil is about 8000
grown in Europe and north America. The oil of ppepermint tons per year (1). Peppermint leaf and oil are used for folk
has been used for various purposes since time imemoriable, medicine, as flavoring agents, and in cosmetic and
to treat headache, common cold, neuralgia etc. This review pharmaceutical products throughout the world (2).
focuses on the antispasmodic effects of peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is the most extensively used of all the
Peppermint oil has a fresh, sharp, menthol smell, is clear to volatile oils (3). Herbalists consider peppermint an
pale yellow in color and watery in viscosity. India is astringent, antiseptic, antipruritic, antispasmodic,
world’s largest producer and exporter of mint oil. Mint oil antiemetic, carminative, diaphoretic, mild bitter, analgesic,
and its constituents and derivatives are used in food, anticatarrhal, antimicrobial, rubefacient, stimulant, and
pharmaceutical and perfumery and flavouring industry. Its emmenagogue(4),( 5). Peppermint oil vapor was used as an
main constituent, menthol, is used in the manufacture of inhalant for respiratory congestion. Peppermint oil infused
lozenges, toothpastes, pain balms, cold balms, Dabur Pudin tea was a remedy used to treat coughs, bronchitis, and
Hara, etc. The basic raw material for mint oil is leaves of a inflammation of the oral mucosa and throat. This method is
plant Mentha arvensis. The oil is used for treating certain still put to use. It has traditionally been used to treat a
stomach disorders like indigestion, gas problem, acidity, variety of digestive complaints such as colic in infants,
etc. It is the main ingredient of ayurvedic medicines like flatulence, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea and vomiting,
Daburs ‘Pudin Hara’. The oil is a natural source of morning sickness and anorexia, and as a spasmolytic to
menthol, which is the main ingredient of cough drops and reduce gas and cramping. Peppermint oil is currently used
ointments like Vicks Vaporub, etc. The capsules were to treat irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease,
found beneficial in reducing total procedure time, reducing ulcerative colitis, gallbladder and biliary tract disorders,
colonic spasm, increasing endoscopist satisfaction and and liver complaints(6)(7). Peppermint oil is used to relieve
decreasing pain in patients during colonoscopy. menstrual cramps(8). Peppermint oil is used externally for
Peppermint is taken internally as a tea, tincture, oil, or neuralgia, myalgia, headaches, migraines and chicken
extract, and applied externally as a rub or liniment. It s pox(5)(6).
often used in pediatric patients for treating abdominal pain,
irritable bowel syndrome, nausea and symptomatic relief of CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
coughs and colds.(20) Menthol is the primary component of the essential oil of
Historical and Popular Uses Peppermint’s Latin name, peppermint and is mostly responsible for the agents anti
Mentha piperita, comes from the Greek Mintha, the name spasmolytic effects. Various constituents of peppermint oil
of a mythical nymph thought to have metamorphosed into are limonene (1.0-5.0%), cineole (3.5-14.0%), menthone
the plant, and the Latin piper, meaning pepper. It is one of (14.0-32.0%), menthofuran (1.0 -9.0%), isomenthone (1.5-
the world’s oldest medicinal herbs, and is used in both 10.0%), menthyl acetate (2.8-10.0%), isopulegol (0.2%),
Eastern and Western traditions. Ancient Greek, Roman, and menthol (55.0%), pulegone ( 4.0%) and carvone (max.
Egyptian cultures used the herb in cooking and medicine. 1.0%).
Peppermint is currently one of the most economically
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Aishwarya Balakrishnan /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 7(7), 2015, 474-476
CARDIOVASCULAR PROPERTIES : EFFECT ON SKIN AND MUCOUS MEMBRANE :
Peppermint has traditionally been used as a rubefacient.(12) Peppermint is said to be a good analgesic to be applied
It is said to have vasodilating properties on some animals. topically and also a coolant for the skin. Peppermint oil
It has a lowering effect on the heart rate and the systolic stimulates cold receptors on the skin and dilates blood
pressure. Relaxation of bronchial smooth muscles , increase vessels, causing a sensation of coldness and an analgesic
in the ventilation are also other cardiovascular effects of effect (11). Menthol is a topical vasodilator that enhances
peppermint oil. (11) the absorption of other topical skin medications. It is said
that menthol enhances the absorption of cortisone,
PULMONARY PROPERTIES: mannitol, indomethacin, morphine hydrochloride, and
Inhalation of peppermint oil increases the nasal air force propranolol (22)(24). Menthol moderates oral sensations of
and thus supplies more air into the lungs.(10) In a few warmth and coldness(25), (26.) In low concentrations,
studies it was also claimed that it makes the lung surfactant topical application of menthol causes a cooling sensation,
more efficient enabling better pulmonary function. In a while in high concentrations it causes irritation and local
study where the effect of peppermint on athletic activity anesthesia(17). It also increases cutaneous blood flow,
was tested it showed that the subjects had a faster breathing muscle temperature, and skin temperature after topical
rate and as a result a lower arterial PCO2 , decreased end application of the oil. Some studies have claimed that
tidal carbon dioxide tension and fractional end tidal carbon menthol has reduced histamine induced irritation and
dioxide concentration. Lung function test are said to itching.
increase after intake of peppermint.(10) Also the
inspiratory muscle strength will be increased with the IMMUNE MODULATION :
intake of peppermint. Menthol stimulates the same reflex Menthol has anti-inflammatory effects when applied
inhibition of respiration in humans. Peppermint and topically. In one study it was claimed that it could suppress
menthol do not have nasal decongestant properties, antigen induced allergies. Menthol also has a property of
however, menthol does cause subjective improvement in inhibiting cutaneous anaphylaxis that’s mediated by IgE
nasal breathing. antibody.
DENTAL HEALTH: ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT:
Pepper mint is used in making oral dentifrices as it can Menthol is virucidal against Influenza, Herpes and other
provide over all freshness in breath and also keep away bad viruses in vitro.(1) Aqueous extracts of peppermint .
breath. More studies are being done as to whether or not it Peppermint oil and menthol have mild antibacterial effects
directly contributes to preventing caries and plaque, against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
however it is confirmed that it does create an un-favorable (22)(23)(25). Peppermint extracts are bacteriostatic against
environment for bacteria. Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus
bulgaricus.(24) Menthol is bactericidal against strains like
GASTROINTESTINAL BENEFITES: Staphylococcus pyogenes, S. aureus, Streptococcus
Peppermint is used for treatment of non-obstructive pyogenes, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, and
dyspepsia without any known side effects. It improves the Mycobacterium avium.(22)(24) Menthol and peppermint
gastric emptying rate. There is a significant antiemetic oil are fungicidal against Candida albicans, Aspergillus
effect of peppermint in reducing postoperative nausea for albus and dermatophytic fungi(22)
patients with very sensitive gag reflexes.(20)
ANTISPASMODIC EFFECT OF PEPPERMINT OIL:
NEURO-PSYCHIATRIC EFFECTS: Previous studies have shown that various kinds of mint
Some studies have suggested that peppermint is a central were effective in reducing muscle pain (19),(20) muscle
nervous system stimulant. Studies have been conducted on relaxation, and reduce fatigue (21). Until now, many
the effectiveness of aromas on cognitive performance, researches have been done on the effectiveness of various
perceived physical workload, and pain responses were kinds of natural products in the improvement of sport
conducted based on possible changes in the brain activity. performances. Mint is a herb which is well known for its
antispasmodic, painkilling (1)(3), anti-inflammatory,
ENDOCRINE EFFECTS antispasmodic, decongestant, and antioxidant effects (4).
Certain researches have proved that there was a statistically Peppermint is one of the mentha species (i.e., mentha
significant increase in the secreation of endocrine piperita, peppermint oil, mentha arvensis, cornmint oil (5).
hormones.(11) In one study there was a noted segmental Menthol and menthone are the major components of the
maturation arrest in the seminiferous tubules however, the peppermint essential oil. External application of
effects of M.spicata extended from maturation arrest to peppermint extract raised the pain threshold in human (6).
diffuse germ cell aplasia in relation to the dose. Other than Peppermint aroma was also effective on perceived physical
this there are not many significantly known effects on the workload, temporal workload, effort, and anxiety (7).
human endocrine system. According to certain in vitro studies conducted on the
antispasmodic effect of peppermint oil, peppermint relaxes
gastrointestinal smooth muscle spasm by reducing calcium
influx in both guinea pig large intestine and rabbit jejunum.
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Aishwarya Balakrishnan /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 7(7), 2015, 474-476
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