Peppermint, (Mentha × piperita): Role in Management of Diseases through Modulating Various Biological Activities

Abstract

Peppermint, (Mentha ×piperita), aromatic perennial herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is a natural hybrid of Mentha spicata and Mentha aquatica and is found wild with its parent species in central as well as southern Europe. It holds various types of ingredients including menthol, menthone and cineol. Menthol, which is extracted from peppermint, play an important role in the inhibition of various types of pathogenesis. Peppermint oil also acts as a mild carminative agent and used for disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain. Moreover, experimental studies have confirmed its role in health management through anti-oxidant, antiinflammatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, neuroprotection and hepatoprotective effects. its topical application shows relief from cold, muscle pain, and headache. The health promoting role of Peppermint has gained a noteworthy scientific attention, but the exact mechanism of its action still remains not clear. The current review mainly emphases on the pharmalogical effects of peppermint in the inhibition of pathogenesis. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of peppermint in the management of various types of diseases.