Difference between revisions of "Peppermint" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Peppermint''' | + | '''Peppermint''' is an aromatic, usually [[infertility|sterile]], natural [[hybrid]] plant ((''Mentha × piperita'')) that is considered to be a cross between [[watermint]] (''Mentha aquatica'') and [[spearmint]] (''Mentha spicata'') and that spreads by rooting. The term also refers to the [[oil]] from this plant that is popular both as a flavoring agent and for medicial purposes. Peppermint generally is generally regarded as "the world's oldest medicine," with archeological evidence placing its use at least as far back as Ancient Egyptian times. |
| − | + | ==Description== | |
| − | Peppermint is generally | + | ''Mentha x piperita'' is a perennial plant that grows to a height of up to one meter (three feet) (Longe 2005). Typically the stems are from 30-70 centimeters (cm) tall, rarely up to 100 cm, smooth, and square in cross section. Peppermint has small purple or white flowers and downy green leaves with serrated edges. The [[leaf|leave]]s are from 4-9 cm long and 1.5-4 cm broad, dark green with reddish veins, and with an acute apex and coarsely toothed margins. The [[flower]]s are 6-8 millimeters (mm) long, with a four-lobed corolla about 5 mm diameter; they are produced in whorls around the stem, forming thick, blunt spikes. Flowering is from July to September. |
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| + | Peppermint belongs to the Lamiaceae family of the [[flowering plant]]s. It is a natural hybrid of ''Mentha spicata'' (spearmint) and ''Mentha aquatica'' (watermint) and occasionally is found wild with its parent species in central and southern [[Europe]]. The first intentional crossbreed of watermint and spearmint was done in England. Being sterile, it spreads by rooting. The ''Mentha'' genus, known as mints, includes about 25 species. Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial, rarely annual, herbs. | ||
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| + | The essential oil of peppermint includes the principal active ingrediants of [[menthol]], menthone, and menthyl acetate, with menthyl acetate responsible for the plants minty aroma and flavor (Longe 2005). Menthol, the main active ingrediant, is found in the leaves and flowering tops of the plant and provides the cool sensation of the herb (Longe 2005). The quality of the oil is based on the menthol content. Japanese peppermint oil typically contains 85% menthol, while English peppermint oil has a menthol content of 60-70% and American 50-78% (Longe 2005). | ||
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| + | ==Cultivation== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Peppermint was first cultivated in England in the late seventeeth century (Longe 2005). It is primarily cultivated for its oil, which comes from the leaves, but the medicinal parts are derived from the whole plant and also include flavonoids, phenolic acids, and triterpenes (Longe 2005). | ||
| + | |||
| + | The plant is harvested when it has its highest oil content, generally before the plant blooms, or during dry, sunny weather (Longe 2005). It is harvested in the morning before the essential oil content is reduced by the sun (Longe 2005). The United States is responsble for about 75% of the world's supply of peppermint. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The wild form of the plant is less suitable for this purpose, with cultivated plants having been selected for more and better oil content. Seeds sold at stores labeled peppermint generally will not germinate into true peppermint, but into a particularly poor-scented spearmint plant. The true peppermint might rarely produce seeds, but only by fertilization from a spearmint plant and contribute only their own spearmint [[gene]]s (similar to female [[mule]]s that have babies, contributing only their maternal horse genes). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Peppermint generally thrives in shade and expands quickly by underground [[rhizomes]]. When grown in a private garden, if not planted in containers it can rapidly take over a whole garden. It needs a good water supply, and is ideal for planting in part-sun to shade areas. | ||
===Uses=== | ===Uses=== | ||
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In the United States, [[Washington]] ranks number one in production of Peppermint Oil.<ref>http://www.ofm.wa.gov/databook/resources/nt14.asp Washington's Rank in the Nation's Agriculture</ref><ref>http://www.nass.usda.gov/QuickStats/index2.jsp NASS USDA Speciality Crops: Pepermint</ref> | In the United States, [[Washington]] ranks number one in production of Peppermint Oil.<ref>http://www.ofm.wa.gov/databook/resources/nt14.asp Washington's Rank in the Nation's Agriculture</ref><ref>http://www.nass.usda.gov/QuickStats/index2.jsp NASS USDA Speciality Crops: Pepermint</ref> | ||
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===Varieties & Cultivars=== | ===Varieties & Cultivars=== | ||
Revision as of 17:31, 19 July 2007
- This article is about the herb; the tree Agonis flexuosa is also commonly known as peppermint.
| Peppermint | ||||||||||||
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 Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
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| Mentha × piperita L. |
Peppermint is an aromatic, usually sterile, natural hybrid plant ((Mentha × piperita)) that is considered to be a cross between watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata) and that spreads by rooting. The term also refers to the oil from this plant that is popular both as a flavoring agent and for medicial purposes. Peppermint generally is generally regarded as "the world's oldest medicine," with archeological evidence placing its use at least as far back as Ancient Egyptian times.
Description
Mentha x piperita is a perennial plant that grows to a height of up to one meter (three feet) (Longe 2005). Typically the stems are from 30-70 centimeters (cm) tall, rarely up to 100 cm, smooth, and square in cross section. Peppermint has small purple or white flowers and downy green leaves with serrated edges. The leaves are from 4-9 cm long and 1.5-4 cm broad, dark green with reddish veins, and with an acute apex and coarsely toothed margins. The flowers are 6-8 millimeters (mm) long, with a four-lobed corolla about 5 mm diameter; they are produced in whorls around the stem, forming thick, blunt spikes. Flowering is from July to September.
Peppermint belongs to the Lamiaceae family of the flowering plants. It is a natural hybrid of Mentha spicata (spearmint) and Mentha aquatica (watermint) and occasionally is found wild with its parent species in central and southern Europe. The first intentional crossbreed of watermint and spearmint was done in England. Being sterile, it spreads by rooting. The Mentha genus, known as mints, includes about 25 species. Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial, rarely annual, herbs.
The essential oil of peppermint includes the principal active ingrediants of menthol, menthone, and menthyl acetate, with menthyl acetate responsible for the plants minty aroma and flavor (Longe 2005). Menthol, the main active ingrediant, is found in the leaves and flowering tops of the plant and provides the cool sensation of the herb (Longe 2005). The quality of the oil is based on the menthol content. Japanese peppermint oil typically contains 85% menthol, while English peppermint oil has a menthol content of 60-70% and American 50-78% (Longe 2005).
Cultivation
Peppermint was first cultivated in England in the late seventeeth century (Longe 2005). It is primarily cultivated for its oil, which comes from the leaves, but the medicinal parts are derived from the whole plant and also include flavonoids, phenolic acids, and triterpenes (Longe 2005).
The plant is harvested when it has its highest oil content, generally before the plant blooms, or during dry, sunny weather (Longe 2005). It is harvested in the morning before the essential oil content is reduced by the sun (Longe 2005). The United States is responsble for about 75% of the world's supply of peppermint.
The wild form of the plant is less suitable for this purpose, with cultivated plants having been selected for more and better oil content. Seeds sold at stores labeled peppermint generally will not germinate into true peppermint, but into a particularly poor-scented spearmint plant. The true peppermint might rarely produce seeds, but only by fertilization from a spearmint plant and contribute only their own spearmint genes (similar to female mules that have babies, contributing only their maternal horse genes).
Peppermint generally thrives in shade and expands quickly by underground rhizomes. When grown in a private garden, if not planted in containers it can rapidly take over a whole garden. It needs a good water supply, and is ideal for planting in part-sun to shade areas.
Uses
Peppermint has a high menthol content, and is often used as a flavoring in tea, ice cream, confectionery, chewing gum, and toothpaste. The oil also contains menthone and menthyl esters. It is the oldest and most popular flavor of mint-flavored confectionery. Peppermint can also be found in some shampoos and soaps, which give the hair a minty scent and produce a cooling sensation on the skin.
Peppermint, like many spices and herbs, is believed to have medicinal properties when consumed. It is said that it helps against upset stomachs, inhibits the growth of certain bacteria, and can help soothe and relax muscles when inhaled or applied to the skin. Other health benefits are attributed to the high manganese, vitamin C and vitamin A content; as well as trace amounts of various other nutrients such as fibre, iron, calcium, folate, potassium, tryptophan, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, riboflavin, and copper.
Some trials (which were not experimentally sound) have demonstrated that peppermint oil has the ability to reduce colicky abdominal pain due to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with an NNT (number needed to treat) around 3.1[1], but the oil is irritant to the stomach in the quantity required and therefore needs wrapping for delayed release in the intestine. Peppermint relaxes the gastro-oesophageal sphincter, thus promoting belching.
Peppermint flowers are large nectar producers and honeybees as well as other nectar harvesting organisms forage them heavily. A mild, pleasant varietal honey can be produced if there is sufficient acreage of plants.
Areas of North America where peppermint was formerly grown for oil often have an abundance of feral plants, and it is considered somewhat invasive[citation needed].
In the United States, Washington ranks number one in production of Peppermint Oil.[2][3]
Varieties & Cultivars
- Mentha × piperita citrata – Eau De Cologne Mint
- Mentha × piperita officinalis - White Peppermint
- Mentha × piperita vulgaris - Black Peppermint
- Mentha × piperita cultivar Chocolate mint - Grows just like peppermint with dark purple runners with purple lined dark green leaves.[citation needed]
| Herbs and spices | |
|---|---|
| Herbs | Angelica • Basil • Basil, holy • Basil, Thai • Bay leaf • Boldo • Borage • Cannabis • Chervil • Chives • Coriander leaf (cilantro) • Curry leaf • Dill • Epazote • Eryngium foetidum (long coriander) • Hoja santa • Houttuynia cordata (giấp cá) • Hyssop • Lavender • Lemon balm • Lemon grass • Lemon verbena • Limnophila aromatica (rice paddy herb) • Lovage • Marjoram • Mint • Mitsuba • Oregano • Parsley • Perilla (shiso) • Rosemary • Rue • Sage • Savory • Sorrel • Stevia • Tarragon • Thyme • Vietnamese coriander (rau răm) • Woodruff |
| Spices | African pepper • Ajwain (bishop's weed) • Aleppo pepper • Allspice • Amchur (mango powder) • Anise • Aromatic ginger • Asafoetida • Camphor • Caraway • Cardamom • Cardamom, black • Cassia • Cayenne pepper • Celery seed • Chili • Cinnamon • Clove • Coriander seed • Cubeb • Cumin • Cumin, black • Dill seed • Fennel • Fenugreek • Fingerroot (krachai) • Galangal, greater • Galangal, lesser • Garlic • Ginger • Grains of Paradise • Horseradish • Juniper berry • Liquorice • Mace • Mahlab • Malabathrum (tejpat) • Mustard, black • Mustard, brown • Mustard, white • Nasturtium • Nigella (kalonji) • Nutmeg • Paprika • Pepper, black • Pepper, green • Pepper, long • Pepper, pink, Brazilian • Pepper, pink, Peruvian • Pepper, white • Pomegranate seed (anardana) • Poppy seed • Saffron • Sarsaparilla • Sassafras • Sesame • Sichuan pepper (huājiāo, sansho) • Star anise • Sumac • Tasmanian pepper • Tamarind • Turmeric • Wasabi • Zedoary |
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
Plants For a Future: Mentha genus [1] Herbal uses of Peppermint.
- ↑ http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/alternat/AT022.html
- ↑ http://www.ofm.wa.gov/databook/resources/nt14.asp Washington's Rank in the Nation's Agriculture
- ↑ http://www.nass.usda.gov/QuickStats/index2.jsp NASS USDA Speciality Crops: Pepermint
- Longe, J. L. 2005. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Farmington Hills, Mich: Thomson/Gale. ISBN 0787693960.
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