Peppermint Oil (Mentha Piperita)

Abeer Khattab-History

Jennifer Hadra-Chemistry

Amanda Trudeau-Research History

Peppermint – Mentha piperitaFamily Name : Labiatae

Other Name : Mentha

It is an aromatic herbaceous plant of the mint family

Distribution : Originated in Europe and early English colonists brought it to North America

It is also grown in England, Russia, and other European countries, where it become a very common plant.

Description of Peppermint PlantLeaf : Opposite, stems are square in across section, oval looking smooth and sharply pointed, evenly toothed, dark green, slightly rough underneath .

Flower : Small and pale purple, born on leafless terminal spikes in loose disconnected whorls.

Fruit and Bark : None .

Form : Grows 1- 3 feet, plant grows best in dark, moist soil, related to spearmint.

Essential Oils of PeppermintIt is the source of essential oils which are monoterpene, mainly synthesized in leaves, the first step in plastids by (4S)- Limonene synthase enzyme, but the succeeding steps occur outside the leucoplasts of oil gland cells.

The principal constituent of peppermint oil is Menthol (C10 H19 OH) which is white crystalline substance, has the peppermint odor and produces a sensation of cold in the mouth ---why?

Essential Oils of Peppermint

Dr. David Julius’s lab at the University of California, San Francisco, discovered that menthol activates cold receptors in our tissues called CMR1 receptors.

They have the same structure and way of working like VR1 receptors for sensation of cold and heat (menthol and capsaicin).

History of Peppermint UsePeppermint was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians and used by the Greek and Roman cooks as a flavoring for wines and sauces.

Some Asian countries have cultivated mint since ancient times.

It has been used in Europe and western medicine for a variety of ailments including toothaches, morning sickness and cramping.

It was brought to the U.S.A. early in the 19th century.

History of Peppermint Use (Contd.)

These plants were the foundation of what are today the largest peppermint centers in the world like the northeastern united states.Now practically the Midwestern states of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin, all decreasing production.The far western states of Oregon, and Washington are now the major of American peppermint oil.Peppermint oil is used as a flavoring agent in pharmaceuticals, elixirs, food, and beverages especially chewing gum and candy, there is some use as a fragrance.

Cezanne, Paul

Still life with Peppermint bottle

1890 –94, Oil on canvas, national Gallery of Art Washington, D . C.

One of the most original of Cezanne’s still life

Products and Uses of Peppermint

Used in Middle eastern salad called tabbouleh combined with parsley giving it the delicious taste due to its delightful flavor.

Leaves of Peppermint used for flavoring tea added directly green or dried produced as packages called Peppermint tea which could be used separately as a hot drink like tea, Native

Products and Uses of Peppermint

Peppermint oil is most popular for flavoring candy, to give medicines, mouthwashes, and toothpaste a good taste, also used newly as lip balm recipe, it is the first aid for toothache being antiseptic and possessing a local anesthetic effect

Products and Uses of Peppermint

Peppermint oil is also a soothing remedy for colds and flu.

Fresh crushed leaves can be applied locally to relieve pain, in paths it can be used to relieve rheumatic and muscle pains.

It is well known for its digestive properties, used to relieve indigestion, wind, colic, nausea, diarrhea,and Crohns disease, stomach ulcers and ulcerative colitis.

Major Compound Menthol

Compounds from the peppermint plant are extracted from the leaves. Peppermint has a wide variety of uses. Some of those include: Flavorings: water, toothpaste, teas etc.

Common coldCandies BronchitisAromatherapy SinusAntacid/Anti-nausea tablets FeverGenetic Engineering Vomiting 

Peppermint Plant

Menthol

Medical Uses/Dosage/Side Effects

Common cold Antispasmodic agentBronchitis Increase Esophageal Acid ClearanceSinusFeverVomiting

At this time dosage amounts are unclear. Several studies were reviewed and concluded that there were no reported side effects or tissue damage with the use of peppermint

Mode of Action

In hospital studies where peppermint oil was used as an antispasmatic is believed to act on beta-adrenergic receptors and uses a G-coupled protein pathway. (This is currently a hypothesis, no formal study has actually concluded in the exact pathway of peppermint as an antispasmatic.)

Mode of Action

Other studies that used peppermint as an antacid concluded that using peppermint in the form of an oral lozenge increased swallowing rate, which in turn increased esophageal acid clearance.

Research History

Treatment for:Postoperative nausea

Headache

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Dyspepsia

Other Studies

Cosmetic Use

Use with other substancesCaraway oil

Eucalyptus oil

Postoperative Nausea

Study in UK

Hypothesis: Inhalation of peppermint oil will affect incidence and severity of gynecological surgical patients

Outcome: Incidence of NauseaControl Group-100%

Placebo Group-100%

Experimental Group-67%

Headache

Germany

Double Blind Study32 healthy subjects

Combinations of:

Peppermint oil + Eucalyptus Oil:• Significant reduction of EMG surface activity

of temporal muscle

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

United States (2000)

Women 14-24%

Men 5-19%

3x more likely to miss work

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Randomized Clinical Trials

Studies Showed Improvement in:Abdominal pain

Stool frequency

Flatulence

Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia, which means "bad" (dys) "digestion" (pepsia)

Term used by doctors to describe a set of symptoms which are believed to have their cause somewhere in the upper part of the gastro-intestinal tract 

Dyspepsia

Pain intensity reduced 40%

Pressure reduced 43%

Placebo Reduction in both 22%

Cosmetics

Peppermint oil in 102 products

Bath oils Hair conditionersLipstickMakeup BaseShaving CreamSoapsNail Creams

Cosmetics

Mostly performed on rats, mice, bacteria, and dogs

Oral Toxicity

Immunotoxicity

Dermal Irritation

Reproductive Toxicity

Carcinogenicity

Safety

No significant side effects

Safe to use in products

Pulegone-component found in peppermint oil may be an irritant