FWD 2 Expanded Commission E: Mint oil

Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E

Mint oil

Latin Name: Mentha arvensis
Pharmacopeial Name: Menthae arvensis aetheroleum
Other Names: cornmint oil, field mint oil, Japanese mint oil, marsh mint oil

Overview

Mint oil is steam distilled from the flowering tops of Japanese mint, a perennial aromatic herb native to Japan, now cultivated in subtropical climates around the world (Bruneton, 1995; Leung and Foster, 1996; Tyler et al., 1988).The material of commerce comesfromChina, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, India, and Paraguay (Bruneton, 1995; Leung and Foster, 1996). Mint oil is used to produce menthol, isolated and purified from the essential oil (Tyler et al., 1988). The partially dementholated essential oil is official in the pharmacopeias of India, France, and China (IP, 1996; Ph.Fr.X., 1990; Tu, 1992) and approved in the Commission E monographs.

Mint oil is official in the Indian Pharmacopoeia as a carminative at dosage 60 l200 l (IP, 1996). It is official in the Chinese pharmacopeia as an aromatic, flavoring agent, and carminative,for application to the skin or mucous membrane, and to relieve pain or discomfort, at single dosage of 0.020.2 ml and daily dosage of 0.060.6 ml (Tu, 1992). In Germany, it is taken internally as a carminative or cholagogue, inhaled as a secretolytic, and applied externally for its cooling property. In the United States, the essential oils of other mints (e.g., peppermint and spearmint) are more commonly used in dietary supplement, health food, and OTC drug products than Japanese mint oil (Leung and Foster, 1996). However, menthol, derived from mint oil, is widely used as an antipruritic component of OTC preparations to treat burns and sunburn, poison ivy rash, athlete's foot, and as a counterirritant in external analgesic preparations (Tyler et al., 1988).

The approved modern therapeutic applications for mint oil are supportable based on its history of clinical use in well established systems of traditionalmedicine, on phytochemical investigations,and in vitro studies and in vivo pharmacological experiments in animals.

French pharmacopeial grademint oil is the essential oil of Japanese mint, partially dementholated by freezing and crystallization processes, composed of 3045% menthol, 1735% menthone, 513% isomenthone, 27% menthyl acetate, 1.57% limonene,<1% menthofuran, <1.5% cineole and pulegone, and <2% carvone (Bruneton, 1995; Ph.Fr.X., 1990). The Commission E monograph requires 317% esters, calculated as menthyl acetate, at least 42% free alcohols, calculated as menthol, and 2540% ketones, calculated as menthone. The Indian Pharmacopoeia requires not less than 50% w/w of total menthol, and other standards, including tests for acidity or alkalinity, optical rotation, and solubility in ethanol (IP, 1996). The Chinese pharmacopeiarequires not less than 50% (g/g) total alcohols, calculated as menthol, 2.06.5% (g/g) ester, calculated as menthyl acetate, and other standards, including tests for relative density, optical rotation, refractive index, identification, and insoluble matter in ethanol (Tu, 1992). The Japanese Pharmacopoeia specifies a simple colormetric test for positive identification of the essential oil (JP XII, 1993).

Description

Mint oil consists of volatile oil obtained from Mentha arvensis L. var. piperascens Malinv. [Fam. Lamiaceae], and its preparations in effective dosage. The oil is obtained by steam distillation of the fresh, flowering herb, followed by partial removal of menthol and rectification.

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Mint oil contains at least 42% free alcohols (3045% menthol); 2540% ketones (1735% menthone, 513% isomenthone); 317% esters (27% menthyl acetate); 1.57% limonene; <1% menthofuran, cineole and pulegone <1.5%, and <2% carvone (Bruneton, J., 1995; Leung and Foster, 1996; List and Hrhammer, 19731979).

The Commission E reported carminative, cholagogic, antibacterial, secretolytic, and cooling properties.

Mint oil has antimicrobial activities in vitro (Leung and Foster, 1996).

Uses

The Commission E approved internal use of mint oil for flatulence, functional gastrointestinal and gallbladder disorders, catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract, and external use for myalgia and neuralgic ailments.

Mint and its oil are used in China for treating indigestion, nausea, sore throat, diarrhea, colds, and headaches (Leung and Foster, 1996).

Contraindications

Internal: Obstruction of the bile ducts, inflammation of the gallbladder, severe liver damage. To be used only after consulting a physician.

External: For infants and young children, mint oil-containing preparations should not be used on areas of the face, especially the nose.

Side Effects

Sensitive people may experience stomach disorders.

Use During Pregnancy and Lactation

No restrictions known.

Interactions with Other Drugs

None known.

Dosage and Administration

Unless otherwise prescribed: 3-6 drops per day essential oil.

Internal:

Inhalant: Inhale deeply the steam vapor by adding 3-4 drops of essential oil in hot water.

External:

Essential oil: Several drops rubbed into the skin (may be diluted with lukewarm water or vegetable oil).

Ointment: Semi-solid preparation containing 5-20% essential oil in a base of paraffin and petroleum jelly for local application.

Nasal ointment: Semi-solid preparation containing 1-5% essential oil.

Tincture: Aqueous-alcoholic preparation containing 5-10% essential oil for local application.

References

Bruneton, J. 1995. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Paris: Lavoisier Publishing.

Indian Pharmacopoeia, Vol. 1. (IP 1996). 1996. Delhi: Government of India Ministry of Health and Family WelfareController of Publications. 454466.

Japanese Pharmacopoeia, 12th ed. (JP XII). 1993. Tokyo: Government of Japan Ministry of Health and WelfareYakuji Nippo, Ltd. 174.

Leung, A.Y. and S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics, 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

List, P.H. and L. Hrhammer (eds.). 19731979. Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, Vols. 17. New York: Springer Verlag.

Pharmacope Franaise Xe dition (Ph.Fr.X.). 19831990. Moulins-les-Metz: Maisonneuve S.A.

Tu, G. (ed.). 1992. Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (English Edition 1992). Beijing: Guangdong Science and Technology Press. 129130.

Tyler, V.E., L.R. Brady, J.E. Robbers. 1988. Pharmacognosy, 9th ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger. 118119.

Additional Resources

Bown, D. 1995. Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York: DK Publishing, Inc. 311.

Bradu, B.L., S.G. Agarval, V.N. Vashist, C.K. Atal. 1971. Comparative performance of diploid and tetraploid Mentha arvensis and evaluation of their oils. Planta Med 20(3):219222.

Dost, F.H. and B. Leiber (eds.). 1967. Menthol and Menthol-containing External Remedies. Use, Mode of Effect and Tolerance in Children. Stuttgart: George Thieme Verlag.

Ellis, B.E. and G.H. Towers. 1970. Biogenesis of rosmarinic acid in Mentha.Biochem J 118(2):291297.

Food Chemicals Codex, 2nd ed.(FCC II).1972. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences.

Grieve, M. 1979. A Modern Herbal. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

Jiangsu Institute of Modern Medicine. 1977. Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian (Encyclopedia of Chinese Materia Medica), Vols. 13. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publications.

Lombard, A., M.L. Tourn, M. Buffa. 1977. In situ reactions on silica gel thin layers in studies on plant oligosaccharides. J Chromatogr 134(1):242245.

Morton, J.F. 1977. Major Medicinal Plants: Botany, Culture and Uses. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

Nadkarni, K.M. 1976. Indian Materia Medica. Bombay: Popular Prakashan. 788789.

NF T 75-306. Dec. 1985. [The French standard for cornmint oil].

Nigam, I.C. and L. Levi. 1964. Essential oils and their constituents. XX. Detection and estimation of menthofuran in Mentha arvensis and other mint species by coupled gas-liquid-thin-layer chromatography. J Pharm Sci 53:10081013.

van Os, F.H. and D. Smith. 1970. De vluchtige olie van Mentha arvensis L. subsp. austriaca (Jacquin) Briquet [The essential oil of Mentha arvensis L. subsp. austriaca (Jaquin) Briquet]. Pharm Weekbl 105(44):12731276.

Panadero, M. 1959. [Study of Japanese mint cultivated in Spain] Farmacognosia 19:225253.

Poetsch, C.E. 1967. Brief history of topical rub therapy. In: Dost, F.H. and B. Leiber (eds.). Menthol and Menthol-containing External Remedies. Stuttgart: George Thieme Verlag.

This material was adapted from The Complete German Commission E MonographsTherapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. M. Blumenthal, W.R. Busse, A. Goldberg, J. Gruenwald, T. Hall, C.W. Riggins, R.S. Rister (eds.) S. Klein and R.S. Rister (trans.). 1998. Austin: American Botanical Council; Boston: Integrative Medicine Communications.

1) The Overview section is new information.

2) Description, Chemistry and Pharmacology, Uses, Contraindications, Side Effects, Interactions with Other Drugs, and Dosage sections have been drawn from the original work. Additional information has been added in some or all of these sections, as noted with references.

3) The dosage for equivalent preparations (tea infusion, fluidextract, and tincture) have been provided based on the following example:

  • Unless otherwise prescribed: 2 g per day of [powdered, crushed, cut or whole] [plant part]
  • Infusion: 2 g in 150 ml of water
  • Fluidextract 1:1 (g/ml): 2 ml
  • Tincture 1:5 (g/ml): 10 ml

4) The References and Additional Resources sections are new sections. Additional Resources are not cited in the monograph but are included for research purposes.

This monograph, published by the Commission E in 1994, was modified based on new scientific research. It contains more extensive pharmacological and therapeutic information taken directly from the Commission E.

Excerpt from Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs
Copyright 2000 American Botanical Council
Published by Integrative Medicine Communications
Available from the American Botanical Council.