Page 48 - Pharmacognosy-II (06-PG 303)

Medicinal Actions

Peppermint is used as:
✓ Gastrointestinal spasmolytic; it has a spasmolytic effect on the smooth muscle of the digestive
duct
✓ Carminative
✓ Reduces cough frequency
✓ Mild sedative effect
✓ Choleretic effects effect (promoting the flow of bile from the liver and gall bladder into the
intestinesin addition to its spasmolytic effect on the gall bladder and the bile duct.
✓ It is used as a flavouring agent , tooth paste , shaving creams and herbal preprations, such as;
gargles and mouthwash.

PEPPERMINT LEAVES
Approved by Commission E:

• Liver and gallbladder complaints
• Dyspeptic complaints
The drug is used for convulsive complaints of the gastrointestinaltract as well as gallbladder
and bile ducts.

Other actions as seen from therapeutic pharmaceutical preparations:

• Peppermint oil is considered as evidence based treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); it has
a cooling effect on the skin (analgesic effect) due to Menthol

• Pure menthol and menthone and other terpenes are used in the treatment of small cholesterol
gallstones (long term treatment).

• Menthol has skin-penetration enhancing properties (in anti-rheumatic preparations).

• Menthol possesses Choleretic effect (stimulate the production of bile by the liver)

Warnings / Precautions:

Peppermint is GRAS (generally recognized as safe) in amounts used in seasoning or flavoring,

although medicinal uses of the plant can cause adverse reactions.

Peppermint herb is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) when used as a tea or consumed in a mounts of it
as food however, hypersensitivity reactions to peppermint oil, such as heartburn, gastrointestinal irritation
and, very rarely, allergic reactions including headache, flushing, muscle tremor, and skin rashes, have been
reported.
Applied topically, peppermint oil can induce contact dermatitis, hypersensitivity reactions or chemical
burns.

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