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Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 13: 213-14. 2009. Pharmacological
Activities of Mentha piperita- Mini Review 1Department of Microbiology, PSG 2Department of Microbiology, GRD *Corresponding author: Dr.S.Meenatchisundaram, E-Mail: drmscbe@gmail.com Issued Peppermint (Mentha
× piperita) is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata). The plant is indigenous in Pharmacological Activities of Mentha piperita Antimicrobial activity Extracts of Folium Menthae
Piperitae have antibacterial and antiviral activity
in vitro. Addition of ground leaves to the agar medium inhibited the growth
of Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus
aureus and Vibrio
parahaemolyticus at concentrations of 0.1–2.0%
(w/v). Aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves reduced the number of
plaques of the rinderpest virus at concentrations
of 4–8mg/ml1. Aqueous extracts of the leaves demonstrated activity
against the following viruses in egg and cell culture: Smooth muscle contraction A 31% ethanol extract of the leaves inhibited both acetylcholine- and histamine-induced smooth muscle contractions in guinea-pig ileum in vitro at a concentration of 10 ml/l. The results were similar to those obtained with 0.13 mg atropine3,4. An aqueous flavonoid fraction isolated from a leaf extract inhibited barium chloride-induced muscle contractions of guinea-pig ileum in vitro at a concentration corresponding to 0.5 g leaves/ml5. Choleretic
activity Injection of a leaf infusion (0.5 ml) or a flavonoid fraction (equivalent to 3.3 g leaves/kg body weight) increased the amount of bile acids in cannulated rats and dogs (dose 0.4 mg/kg body weight)5,6. A mixture of flavonoids, isolated from the leaves, had choleretic activity in dogs (2mg/kg body weight)7. Flavomentin, a flavonoid isolated from the leaves, stimulated bile secretion and the synthesis of bile acids in dogs (2mg/kg body weight)8. Intragastric administration of a 30% ethanol extract of the leaves to rats (1ml/kg body weight) increased bile flow by 43%. The extract did not induce sedation in mice at doses up to 10 ml/kg body weight4. Anti-oedema activity Topical application of a methanol leaf extract to mice (2.0mg/ear) inhibited ear oedema induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate9. Analgesic activity Intragastric administration of a 30% ethanol extract of the leaves inhibited phenylbenzoquinone-induced writhing in mice (ED50 2.1 ml/kg body weight)4. Toxicology Intragastric administration of a leaf extract (50 g leaves infused with 500 ml hot water for 10 minutes, then spray-dried) to 12 mice (4 g/kg body weight as a single dose) did not result in central nervous system depression, toxic effects or mortality10. References 1. Alwan AH. Antiviral
activity of some Iraqi indigenous plants. International Journal of Crude Drug Research, 1988, 2:107–111. 2. Herrmann EC Jr, Kucera LS. Antiviral substances in plants of the mint family (Labiatae). Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 1967:874–878. 3. Forster HB. Antispasmodic effects of some medicinal plants. Planta Medica, 1980, 40:309–319. 4. Leslie GB. A pharmacometric evaluation of nine Bio-Strath herbal remedies. Medita, 1978, 8:3–19. 5. Lallement-Guilbert N, Bézanger-Beauquesne L. Recherches sur les flavonoides quelques Labiees médicinales
(romarin, menthe poivrée, suage officinale). Plantes médicinales et Phytothérapie, 1970, 4:92–107. 6.
Steinmetzer K. Experimentelle Untersuchungen über Cholagoga. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 1926, 39:1418–1422, 1455–1457. 7.
Pasechnik IK. Study of choleretic properties
specific to flavonoids from Mentha piperita leaves. Farmakologiia Toksikologiia, 1966, 21:735–737. 8. Pasechnik IK, Gella EV. Choleretic preparation
from peppermint. Farmatsevtychnyi Zhurnal ( 9. Yasukawa K. Inhibitory effect of edible plant
extracts on 12- Otetradecanoylphorbol- 13- acetate-induced ear edema in mice. Phytotherapy Research, 1993, 7:185–189. 10. Della Loggia R. Evaluation of some pharmacological activities of a peppermint extract. Fitoterapia, 1990, 61:215–221. |