Peppermint

Peppermint, also called Mentha piperita, is a medicinal and spice plant from the genus Mentha (mints). It belongs to the labiates family and originated from the crossing of brook mint (Mentha aquatica) with spearmint (Mentha spicata). It differs from other mint species by its high menthol and low carvone content and sharper taste.

Phytotherapeutically, the leaves are used, see Menthae piperitae folium and the contained peppermint oil, see Menthae piperitae aetheroleum.

Peppermint is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows to a height of between 30 and 90 cm. Its stems are hairy and partly branched, the leaves of the plant are arranged in opposite directions and are elongated to ovoid and roughly toothed at the edges. The flowers of peppermint grow in the months between July and September and are pink to purple in colour.

Naturopathy: Mentha piperita is the parent plant of Menthae piperitae folium.

Various extracts from the leaves and/or flowers of Mentha piperita are used in cosmetic formulations:

• Mentha piperita extract (INCI): extract from the leaves and shoot tips of Mentha piperita
• Mentha piperita oil (INCI): essential oil from the flowering plant
• Metha piperita leaves (INCI): extract from the leaves of Mentha piperita
• Metha piperita water (INCI): aqueous solution from the leaves of Mentha piperita

1. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 171-173
2. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/pfefferminze.php
3. https://plants.fnr.de/industrialplants/medicinalplants/plants-database