Peppermint

Peppermint leaf (Mentha piperita) is an herb grown in the Pacific Northwest and in Europe. Traditionally, peppermint leaves and oil have been valued for its use in medicinal herbal formulas.1

Forms

Peppermint Leaf Extract: The leaves are harvested, milled, ground, and then a concentrated liquid is extracted from the leaves by percolation. Major constituents of the peppermint leaves are rosmarinic acid and several flavonoids, primarily eriocitrin, luteolin and hesperidin.2

Peppermint Leaf Powder: Its green leaves are gathered during the plant’s flowering period.The leaves are dried, sifted, and prepared into a fine powder. Major constituents of the peppermint leaves are rosmarinic acid and several flavonoids, primarily eriocitrin, luteolin and hesperidin.2

Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil is steam distilled from the leaves and stems of the peppermint plant. Menthol is a major volatile components of the essential oil, and its minty aroma and taste make it a popular, natural flavor.2

Health Benefits

Traditionally, peppermint leaf has been valued for gastrointestinal and gallbladder ailments, such as: dyspepsia, flatulence, intestinal colic or biliary disorders.1,3 Peppermint oil may relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, and cold symptoms, such as: sore throat, headache, coughs and pain.1,2,4 It has been suggested in preclinical studies that Peppermint helps relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome by relaxing the tissue of the gastrointestinal tract and also helps stimulate immune function.2,5 Lab studies also suggest that peppermint may have antioxidant, antiviral, antitumor, and antiallergenic properties.2,6

References

  1. MedlinePlus. NIH. Accessed in July 2015. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/705.html
  2. McKay DL, Blumberg JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.). Phytother Res. 2006 Aug;20(8):619-33. Review. PubMed PMID: 16767798.
  3. Peppermint leaf. American Botanical Council. Accessed in July 2015. http://cms.herbalgram.org/expandedE/Peppermintleaf.html
  4. Peppermint oil. American Botanical Council. Accessed in July 2015. http://cms.herbalgram.org/expandedE/Peppermintoil.html
  5. Beesley A, Hardcastle J, Hardcastle PT, Taylor CJ. Influence of peppermint oil on absorptive and secretory processes in rat small intestine. Gut. 1996 Aug;39(2):214-9. PubMed PMID: 8991859; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1383301.
  6. Liu X, Sun ZL, Jia AR, Shi YP, Li RH, Yang PM. Extraction, preliminary characterization and evaluation of in vitro antitumor and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from Mentha piperita. Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Sep 15;15(9):16302-19. doi: 10.3390/ijms150916302. PubMed PMID: 25226538; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4200825.