Peppermint

Peppermint, also known as Mentha piperita, is a medicinal and aromatic plant from the Mentha (mint) genus. It belongs to the labiate family and originated from the crossing of brook mint (Mentha aquatica) with spearmint (Mentha spicata). It differs from other types of mint due to its high menthol and low carvone contentand its sharper taste.

The leaves are used phytotherapeutically, see Menthae piperitae folium and the peppermint oil it contains, 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 opposite and elongated to ovoid with coarsely toothed edges. The flowers of peppermint grow between July and September and are pink to purple in color, ripening from September to October.

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
• Mentha piperita leaves (INCI): extract from the leaves of Mentha piperita
• Menthapiperita 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