ISSN 2226-3063 e-ISSN 2227-9555

Modern Phytomorphology 15: 156–160, 2022

REVIEW ARTICLE

Phytoconstituents and medicinal value of Mentha piperita

Mamata Sharma, Deepak Gautam*
Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara, Nepal; * dgautam@iofpc.edu.np
Received: 08.02.2022 | Accepted: 22.02.2022 | Published: 28.02.2022

Abstract
Medicinal plants are the most important bio resource of Nepal. The production and consumption of medicinal plants are growing
nowadays. The main objective of this study is to investigate the therapeutic potential of Mentha piperita. Information regarding
Mentha piperita (peppermint) was collected from a secondary source. Data related to chemical composition, medicinal value were
collected from online portals where a total of 45 articles were reviewed and presented in a tabular and descriptive manner. The
result showed that peppermint can grow i n a tropical, subtropical and warm climate, mostly grows in a wet environment and moist
soils. It was mostly used as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiseptic and carminative agent. It is also used to cure several infectious
diseases like intestinal peristalsis, indigestion, bronchitis, asthma and dyspepsia. So further exploration should be done regarding
the medicinal uses of this traditional herb to cure a variety of illnesses.

Keywords: Chemical composition, essential oil, medicinal plant, pudina, traditional medicine.

Introduction prevention of irritable bowel syndrome. Different kinds

of antispasmodics, smooth muscle relaxants have been
Nepal is praised all over the world with diversified
used with the failure of intaking dietary fiber which
medicinal herbs. Among 7,000 species of medicinal
makes benefit on intestinal transit time. Irritable Bowel
plants recognized all over the world, more than 900 types
Syndrome (IBS) includes symptoms of abdominal pain
are said to be found in Nepal(Chhetri et al., 1970). Plants
with hypersensitivity and a combination of smooth
found in Nepal are used in traditional healing systems like muscle spasm (Ford et al., 2008).
Ayurvedic, Homeopathic. Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
belonging to the family Lamiaceae is a hybrid mint and has For the treatment of IBS which is considered as
more than 600 varieties, each having a range of flavors. chronic relapsing only minorities are referred to as
As a source of diet, people cultivate peppermint and has secondary care (Ford et al., 2008). Diagnosis is made
with the prevalence of symptoms such as weight loss and
been used for curing several diseases like muscle spasms,
rectal bleeding. Though its efficiency can’t be obtained
pain, neuralgia and headache. Based on the WHO reports
on long term data, its uses on breast feeding and in
advanced countries have used medicinal plants for both
pregnancy are likely to be safe according to the National
clinical therapy and food industries.
Institute of Health (Shams et al., 2015). When taken
We can obtain peppermint oil from flowering Mentha orally menthyl acetate isomenthone which is the main
piperita by steam distillation (Pittler & Ernst, 1998). Active ingredients of peppermint oil is excreted in urine. To
ingredients of peppermint oil provide carminative effects decrease the burdensome symptoms like bleaching upto
and serotonergic which are supposed to be far better than 24%, altered a sensation of mouth upto 11% peppermint
using tricyclic antidepressants, antispasmodics and fiber oil is advantageous with a release of ileocolonic (Weerts
(Cash et al., 2016). Peppermint oil which is supposed to et al., 2020). There is a lack of mutual understanding
have antispasmodic properties have been used in the of the possible effect of peppermint oil. So, the aim of

© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Andriy Novikov, State Natural History Museum NAS of Ukraine on behalf of Modern Phytomorphology. This
is an open access article under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) freely available on
https://phytomorphology.org/.
1 57 7 | Sharma M., et al.

this study is the identification of the main ingredients 2018). It is a perennial herb and from its aerial parts oil, leaf
of peppermint oil and its chemical constituents and extract, leaf water and leaf can be extracted. Peppermint
phytotoxic potential. is cultivated mostly in the USA, Australia, Argentina and
European countries. In the plains, planting is done in the
Materials and Methods winter months whereas in temperate climates. planting is
Information regarding the Peppermint was collected done in autumn or spring. A temperature of 20-25 degree
from a secondary source. Data related to chemical Celsius promotes vegetative growth and well-drained
composition and medicinal values were collected from loamy, silty loam to clayey loam soil rich in organic matter
online portals like google scholar and research gate is referred. It grows in tropical, sub-tropical and sub
where a total of 45 articles were collected and reviewed. temperate climate. Peppermint oil is a pale yellow liquid
The description such as chemical constituents, medicinal that contains limonene, menthyl acetate, pulegone and
value essential oil is used to search the articles. The articles is used in pharmaceutical products, food, phototherapy
were content analyzed and their chemical composition, which possess antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial and
medicinal value, medicinal importance, phytochemical insecticides properties (Herro & Jacob 2010). The plant
constituents and conventional uses are represented which is indigenous to the Middle East and Europe has
descriptively. a purplish or pinkish color which is irregular in shape
and found as cultivated or wild (Ks & Shinde 2019). It
possesses chemopreventive, antimicrobial and antitumor
potentially used for nervous system action and digestive
disorders in which phytochemical analysis was done to
test the presence of alkaloids, tannin, flavonoids and
phenols (Bhoora et al. 2020).
Chemical Constituents
Peppermint fresh herb contains oil from 0.4% to
0.6% which is composed of secondary metabolites.

Figure 1. Prisma flowchart for the study of medicinal values of Mentha

piperita.

Results and Discussion

Table 1. Taxonomy of Mentha piperita.

Kingdom Plantae
Sub-kingdom Tracheobionta
Superdivision Spermatophyta
Phyllum Angiospermophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Lamiales
Family Lamiaceae
Genus Mentha
Species Mentha *Piperita (Peppermint)

Distribution
Peppermint which is cross-breeding of spearmint
and water mint includes 13 to 18 species (Mainasara et al., Figure 2. Mentha piperita plant.

Table 2. Chemical constituents present in major parts of Mentha piperita.

Plants parts Chemical constituents Uses

-All varieties of mint leaves are used in brewing as a tea.
Alkaloids,Flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponins, steroids,
- Ease sun burn pain.
Leaves terpenoids, proteins, carbohydrate, ethanol, methanol, ethyl
-Breath fresher.
acetate
-Moth repellent.
They are used for flavor syrups and sauces that have a minty note
Root Chloroform, hexane, petroleum ether
like colonial shrubs or homemade mint.
Ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, hexane, -These can be used for wound healing and septicemia.
Stem
petroleum, ethane -They are used to flavor sauces, soups and stews.

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The main chemical constituents of peppermint are which calms the stomach and helps release acidity that
Limonene, Menthone, Cineole, Menthofuran, Methyl helps treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Singh et al.,
acetate, Isopulegol, pulegone, Menthol, Carvone and 2021; Soares et al., 2022).
other constituents including flavonoid glycoside(e.g.,
Rich in Nutrients: Peppermint can provide a healthy
Narirutin, Luteolin-7-0-rutinoside, Hesperidin), phenolic
dose of balanced nutrition. Mint leaves can be used as a
acids (caffeic, vanillic, ferulic and chlorogenic (Aparna et
leafy vegetable as a source of dietary nutrients (Arzani et
al., 2017). The various chemical constituents present in
al., 2007).
Mentha piperita are listed in Tab. 1.
Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Peppermint
(Sources: Sarma, 2017; Bodalska et al., 2020; Aparna et
oil contains menthol which treats IBS symptoms through
al., 2017)
its relaxing effects on the muscle of the digestive tract.
Propagation Peppermint oil which is extracted from leaves, stems and
It can be propagated by cutting root/runners/stems, flowers is used for the treatment of IBS because of its
suckers and stolons. For this by stem cutting the thicker relaxing effect on smooth muscle (Rogers et al., 1988).
stem of 3.4 inches should be taken for propagation. For Relieve indigestion: It occur when food sits in the
this, from a grocery store or existing plant some mint is stomach for long before passing into the digestive tract.
taken then from each stems leaves are stripped off which Mint is useful in relieving digestive problems such
is dipped in a growth hormone and then placed in a as indigestion. Peppermint oil reduces spasms of the
glass of water until roots are matured and kept in humid intestinal tract and acts as a carminative herb, carminative
climate and water for a few weeks from which we can means to relieve indigestion (Spirling & Daniels, 2021).
obtain new mint plant (Seran & Thuraisingham 2019).
Decrease breastfeeding pain: After breastfeeding
Conventional Uses applying peppermint water was more effective in
This herbal is mostly used in personal hygiene preventing nipple and arela cracks, which resulted in less
products, pharmaceutical product, cosmeceuticals due nipple pain.
to its fragrance and flavoring properties. It is used in Improves cold symptoms: Menthol is an effective
bath preparation, mouthwashes, therapeutic uses and nasal decongestant that can get rid of congestion and
pharmaceutical drug preparation (Herro & Jacob, 2010). improves airflow and breathing. Mint act as a host of
It is mostly used in the medical and culinary fields for the phytonutrients that promotes health and wellbeing
treatment of headaches, nausea and vomiting (Sujana having an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect
et al., 2013). It is a bio active compound that serves as (Sharangi & Guha, 2013).
an antimicrobial agent and is used for the treatment of Mask Bad Breath: Breath mints are those in that
gastrointestinal conditions, Irritable Bowel Syndrome people reach for when trying to prevent or get rid of bad
(IBS), dyspepsia and biological control of bacterial culture breath. Mint provides a momentary smell that can mask
(Shams et al. 2015; Pratim Sarma 2017). It possesses unfavorable malodor to reduce bad breath (Godha et al.,
antinociceptive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory 2016).
and antioxidant properties which are used to prevent
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic degenerative Treats asthma: Peppermint can ease chest congestion.
disease and inflammation process (Trevisan et al., 2017). The methanol in mint acts as a decongestant that helps
loosen mucus collected in the lungs and also shrinks
It is used in the development of insecticides; antibiotics
swollen membranes in the nose to allow breathing easier.
repel disease- spreading Dipterian vector (Patil et al.,
Mint possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic
2016).
which result in inhibition of in vitro oxidation and are
Medical application helpful for the therapy against various health disorders
Brain health: By smelling the aroma of peppermint oil (Davar, 2018).
while driving or before to testing increased alertness and Cures headache: Peppermint contains menthol that
decreased level of frustration, fatigue and anxiety. It can helps relax muscles and ease the pain. Mint possesses
treat Alzheimer’s symptoms by promoting brain health menthyl esters, dimethyl sulfide, sabinene, ocimene
and increasing alertness (Soares et al., 2022). and has a therapeutic benefit when employed as an
Digestive health: Due to its antiseptic and antibacterial inflammation- inducing process and helps in the
properties, it relieves indigestion, promotes the digestive alleviation of headache, indigestion (Shaikh, 2014).
system and stomach infections. By taking peppermint oil Treats stress and depression: Mint is a widely used
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1 59 | Sharma M., et al.

herb in aromatherapy. It has a strong refreshing smell peppermint we can find various substances like Carbo-
that can ease stress and refresh the body and mind. hydrates, tannins & flavonoids. Mentha Piperita can be a
bed rock for future medicines. So, further investigation is
Makes healthy skin: Peppermint has anti-
required. Comprehensive research is needed for further
inflammatory and antibacterial properties which
exploration this plant which is safe for human use.
help treat acne and pimples on the skin. Mint is rich
in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects having References
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