1. Peppermint Oil (Mentha Piperita) Abeer Khattab-History Jennifer Hadra-Chemistry Amanda Trudeau-Research History

2. Peppermint – Mentha piperita Family Name : Labiatae Other Name : Mentha It is an aromatic herbaceous plant of the mint family Distribution : Originated in Europe and early English colonists brought it to North America It is also grown in England, Russia, and other European countries, where it become a very common plant.

3. Description of Peppermint Plant Leaf : Opposite, stems are square in across section, oval looking smooth and sharply pointed, evenly toothed, dark green, slightly rough underneath. Flower : Small and pale purple, born on leafless terminal spikes in loose disconnected whorls. Fruit and Bark : None. Form : Grows 1- 3 feet, plant grows best in dark, moist soil, related to spearmint.

4. Essential Oils of Peppermint It is the source of essential oils which are monoterpene, mainly synthesized in leaves, the first step in plastids by (4S)- Limonene synthase enzyme, but the succeeding steps occur outside the leucoplasts of oil gland cells. The principal constituent of peppermint oil is Menthol (C10 H19 OH) which is white crystalline substance, has the peppermint odor and produces a sensation of cold in the mouth ---why?

5. Essential Oils of Peppermint Dr. David Julius’s lab at the University of California, San Francisco, discovered that menthol activates cold receptors in our tissues called CMR1 receptors. They have the same structure and way of working like VR1 receptors for sensation of cold and heat (menthol and capsaicin).

6. History of Peppermint Use Peppermint was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians and used by the Greek and Roman cooks as a flavoring for wines and sauces. Some Asian countries have cultivated mint since ancient times. It has been used in Europe and western medicine for a variety of ailments including toothaches, morning sickness and cramping. It was brought to the U.S.A. early in the 19 th century.

7. History of Peppermint Use (Contd.) These plants were the foundation of what are today the largest peppermint centers in the world like the northeastern united states. Now practically the Midwestern states of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin, all decreasing production. The far western states of Oregon, and Washington are now the major of American peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is used as a flavoring agent in pharmaceuticals, elixirs, food, and beverages especially chewing gum and candy, there is some use as a fragrance.

8. Cezanne, Paul Still life with Peppermint bottle 1890 –94, Oil on canvas, national Gallery of Art Washington, D. C. One of the most original of Cezanne’s still life

9. Products and Uses of Peppermint Used in Middle eastern salad called tabbouleh combined with parsley giving it the delicious taste due to its delightful flavor. Leaves of Peppermint used for flavoring tea added directly green or dried produced as packages called Peppermint tea which could be used separately as a hot drink like tea, Native

10. Products and Uses of Peppermint Peppermint oil is most popular for flavoring candy, to give medicines, mouthwashes, and toothpaste a good taste, also used newly as lip balm recipe, it is the first aid for toothache being antiseptic and possessing a local anesthetic effect

11. Products and Uses of Peppermint Peppermint oil is also a soothing remedy for colds and flu. Fresh crushed leaves can be applied locally to relieve pain, in paths it can be used to relieve rheumatic and muscle pains. It is well known for its digestive properties, used to relieve indigestion, wind, colic, nausea, diarrhea,and Crohns disease, stomach ulcers and ulcerative colitis.

12. Major Compound Menthol Compounds from the peppermint plant are extracted from the leaves. Peppermint has a wide variety of uses. Some of those include: Flavorings: water, toothpaste, teas etc. Common cold CandiesBronchitis AromatherapySinus Antacid/Anti-nausea tabletsFever Genetic EngineeringVomiting

13. Peppermint Plant

14. Menthol

15. Medical Uses/Dosage/Side Effects Common coldAntispasmodic agent BronchitisIncrease Esophageal Acid Clearance Sinus Fever Vomiting

16. At this time dosage amounts are unclear. Several studies were reviewed and concluded that there were no reported side effects or tissue damage with the use of peppermint

17. Mode of Action In hospital studies where peppermint oil was used as an antispasmatic is believed to act on beta-adrenergic receptors and uses a G-coupled protein pathway. (This is currently a hypothesis, no formal study has actually concluded in the exact pathway of peppermint as an antispasmatic.)

18. Mode of Action Other studies that used peppermint as an antacid concluded that using peppermint in the form of an oral lozenge increased swallowing rate, which in turn increased esophageal acid clearance.

19. Research History Treatment for: Postoperative nausea Headache Irritable Bowel Syndrome Dyspepsia

20. Other Studies Cosmetic Use Use with other substances Caraway oil Eucalyptus oil

21. Postoperative Nausea Study in UK Hypothesis: Inhalation of peppermint oil will affect incidence and severity of gynecological surgical patients Outcome: Incidence of Nausea Control Group-100% Placebo Group-100% Experimental Group-67%

22. Headache Germany Double Blind Study 32 healthy subjects Combinations of: Peppermint oil + Eucalyptus Oil: Significant reduction of EMG surface activity of temporal muscle

23. Irritable Bowel Syndrome United States (2000) Women 14-24% Men 5-19% 3x more likely to miss work

24. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Randomized Clinical Trials Studies Showed Improvement in: Abdominal pain Stool frequency Flatulence

25. Dyspepsia Dyspepsia, which means "bad" (dys) "digestion" (pepsia) Term used by doctors to describe a set of symptoms which are believed to have their cause somewhere in the upper part of the gastro-intestinal tract

26. Dyspepsia Pain intensity reduced 40% Pressure reduced 43% Placebo Reduction in both 22%

27. Cosmetics Peppermint oil in 102 products Bath oils Hair conditioners Lipstick Makeup Base Shaving Cream Soaps Nail Creams

28. Cosmetics Mostly performed on rats, mice, bacteria, and dogs Oral Toxicity Immunotoxicity Dermal Irritation Reproductive Toxicity Carcinogenicity

29. Safety No significant side effects Safe to use in products Pulegone-component found in peppermint oil may be an irritant