Perennial herb, Mentha piperita L., Labiatae. Habit. Asia, Europe, North America; cultivated in gardens. Medicinal parts are the essential oil, dried leaves and flowering tops, or the fresh flowering plant. Constit. Volatile oil (1-3%), flavonoids incl. luteolin, rutin, hesperidin; phenolic acids incl. caffeic, chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids; triterpenes. GC determn of menthol components in oil: J. P. Sang, J. Chromatogr. 253, 109 (1982); in pharmaceutical preparations: D. Y.-H. Yeung et al., J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 30, 1469 (2003). HPLC determn of phenolic compounds in leaves: F. M. Areias et al., Food Chem. 73, 307 (2001). Review of constituents and medicinal uses: P. R. Bradley, British Herbal Compendium (British Herbal Medicines Association, Dorset, 1992) pp 174-176. Series of articles on pharmacology and clinical experience in irritable bowel syndrome: H.-G. Grigoleit, P. Grigoleit, Phytomedicine 12, 601-616 (2005).
Steam-distilled from fresh leaves and flowering tops. Constit. Chiefly menthol (35-55%), menthone (10-40%), menthyl acetate (1-10%), menthofuran (1-10%), cineol (2-13%), limonene, (+)-isomenthone, viridoflorol, dimethyl sulfide.
An alcoholic soln contg per liter 100 ml oil of peppermint and the alcohol-soluble principles from 10 g of powdered peppermint previously macerated with water.
Carminative; antispasmodic.