Mint

Mint Properties. Scientific name, other names, botanical family. Identification, characteristics, origin, content and active ingredients of Spearmint.

Identification and origin of the Mint

Scientific name: Mentha spicata L.

Other names: Spearmint, mint

Botanical Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Mint is a perennial herb, creeping, with angular branches, glabrous or slightly pubescent, leaves opposite, oblong, rough surface and serrated margin, shortly petiolate.

Its name is also known by Mentha x piperita which is a triple hybrid: Mentha longifolia x M. rotundifolia (M. spicata) x M. Aquatica, having similar effects.

It is likely that its origin is from the Mediterranean region and naturalized throughout Europe and North America.

Content of Mint

The Mint´s used parts are leaves, which contain essential oil (1-3%) *, rich in menthol, flavonoids (timonina), caffeic acid derivatives including some amounts Romárico acid.

The principal active ingredient are Mint L-carvone (responsible for odor), limonene, including some amounts of betaburboneno, cis and trans Carvil acetate, caryophyllene, 1-8 cineole, trans dihirocarvol and sabinene hydrate...

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