A Comprehensive Monograph on Peppermint Oil (Mentha x piperita L.): Pharmacology, Clinical Evidence, and Regulatory Status

1.0 Substance Identification and Chemical Profile

1.1 Botanical Origin and Nomenclature

Peppermint, identified in the DrugBank database under the primary entry for Peppermint Oil (DB11198) and as an investigational substance (DB10984), is a well-known aromatic herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family.[1] The therapeutic agent is the essential oil, scientifically termed Menthae piperitae aetheroleum, which is a complex natural product derived from the plant Mentha x piperita L..[3] This plant is not a distinct species but rather a natural interspecific hybrid of water mint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata).[1] The essential oil is typically obtained through steam distillation of the fresh or partly wilted aerial parts of the flowering plant, including the stem, leaves, and flowers.[1]

The classification of Peppermint as "Biotech" in the initial query (DrugBank ID DB10984) is a misnomer. As a substance directly extracted from a plant, Peppermint Oil is correctly categorized as a herbal medicinal product or a natural health product. It is not a product derived from biotechnological processes such as recombinant DNA technology or monoclonal antibody production. Its long history of use in traditional and herbal medicine for digestive and respiratory ailments predates modern biotechnology by centuries.[5][ The rigorous scientific investigation and regulation it now undergoes, however, place it at the intersection of traditional phytotherapy and modern, evidence-based pharmacology.]

Peppermint Oil is utilized in a wide array of applications, including as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages, a fragrance component in cosmetics and hygienic products, and as an active ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical preparations for topical and oral use.[2]

1.2 Chemical Composition