Perennial herb, Mentha pulegium, L., Labiatae. Medicinal portions are the fresh or dried leaves and flowering tops and the essential oil; traditionally used as an emmenagogue and abortifacient. Habit. Mediterranean region. Constit. Volatile oil (1-2%); tannins such as rosmaric acid; flavonoids incl. diosmin, hesperidin. Also used is the closely related American pennyroyal, Hedeoma pulegioides (L.) Pers., Labiatae. Fragrance monograph: D. L. J. Opdyke, Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 12, 949 (1974). Extraction processes and composition of oil: N. Aghel et al., Talanta 62, 407 (2004). Review of toxicology: I. B. Anderson et al., Ann. Intern. Med. 124, 726-734 (1996); of components and pharmacology: J. Barnes et al., Herbal Medicines (Pharmaceutical Press, London, 2nd Ed., 2002) pp 372-373; J. Gruenwald et al., PDR for Herbal Medicines (Medical Economics, Montvale, 3rd Ed., 2004) pp 627-628.
Volatile oil obtained by steam distillation of the fresh or partially dried plant. Constit. Pulegone (60-90%), menthone, isomenthone, piperitone.
Volatile oil from leaves and flowering tops of H. pulegioides. Constit. Chiefly pulegone, menthone, isomenthone, acetic, formic, butyric, salicylic acids.