The essential oil of mint, especially peppermint (Mentha piperita), particularly peppermint (Mentha piperita), consists of menthol, menthofuran, limonene and methyl acetate.

What it is used for and where

Medical

It has been used by traditional medicine as a remedy for a variety of disorders: muscle relaxation, skin problems, headaches, coughs and colds.

The chemical composition of this essential oil is complex and the concentrations of the constituents, monoterpenes, monoterpenoids, phenolic compounds, vary greatly depending on climatic conditions, harvest season, extraction method and other factors.

Menthol is the main active ingredient with a percentage ranging from 29 to 45%, while in smaller percentages are found menthone, menthofuran and menthyl acetate.

This oil has been found to have antibacterial and antifungal activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (1), as an effective short-term alternative treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (2) and ozone-enhancing agent in the control of microorganisms causing oral diseases in medicine (3).

 Peppermint essential oil studies

Cosmetics

It has the dual function of antibacterial and fragrance.

(1) Oumzil H, Ghoulami S, Rhajaoui M, Ilidrissi A, Fkih-Tetouani S, Faid M, Benjouad A. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of essential oils of Mentha suaveolens. Phytother Res. 2002 Dec;16(8):727-31. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1045. PMID: 12458474.

(2) Khanna R, MacDonald JK, Levesque BG. Peppermint oil for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014 Jul;48(6):505-12. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0b013e3182a88357. 

Abstract. Goals: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules compared with placebo for the treatment of active irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Background: IBS is a common disorder that is often encountered in clinical practice. Medical interventions are limited and the focus is on symptom control....Conclusions: Peppermint oil is a safe and effective short-term treatment for IBS. Future studies should assess the long-term efficacy and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy relative to other IBS treatments including antidepressants and antispasmodic drugs.

(3) Floare AD, Dumitrescu R, Alexa VT, Balean O, Szuhanek C, Obistioiu D, Cocan I, Neacsu AG, Popescu I, Fratila AD, Galuscan A. Enhancing the Antimicrobial Effect of Ozone with Mentha piperita Essential Oil. Molecules. 2023 Feb 21;28(5):2032. doi: 10.3390/molecules28052032. 

Abstract. This study aimed to obtain and analyse Mentha piperita essential oil (MpEO) for the prospect of being used as an enhancement agent for the antimicrobial potential of ozone against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The research was done for different exposure times, and it gained time–dose relationships and time–effect correlations. Mentha piperita (Mp) essential oil (MpEO) was obtained via hydrodistillation and further analysed by using GC-MS. The broth microdilution assay was used to determine the strain inhibition/strain mass growth by using spectrophotometric optical density reading (OD). The bacterial/mycelium growth rates (BGR/MGR) and the bacterial/mycelium inhibition rates (BIR/MIR) after ozone treatment in the presence and absence of MpEO on the ATTC strains were calculated; the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and statistical interpretations of the time–dose relationship and specific t-test correlations were determined. The effect of ozone on the following tested strains at maximum efficiency was observed after 55 s of single ozone exposure, in order of effect strength: S. aureus > P. aeruginosa > E. coli > C. albicans > S. mutans. For ozone with the addition of 2% MpEO (MIC), maximum efficacy was recorded at 5 s for these strains, in order of effect strength: C. albicans > E. coli > P. aeruginosa > S. aureus > S. mutans. The results suggest a new development and affinity regarding the cell membrane of the different microorganisms tested. In conclusion, the use of ozone, combined with MpEO, is sustained as an alternative therapy in plaque biofilm and suggested as helpful in controlling oral disease-causing microorganisms in medicine.