Mentha spicata Health Dictionary

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Mentha Spicata: From 1 Different Sources

Linn. emend. Nathh.

Synonym: M. viridis Linn.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

English: Spearmint, Garden Mint.

Ayurvedic: Pudinaa, Podinaka, Puutihaa, Rochini.

Unani: Nanaa. Pudinaa Kohi.

Action: Carminative, stimulant, antispasmodic, antiemetic, diaphoretic, antiseptic. A tea of dry flowers and leaves is prescribed for tracheobronchitis and hypertension.

The chief constituents of the essential oil are carvone (55-75%) and limonene (up to 21.4%). The herb gave flavonoids, diosmin and diosmetin. Caffeic acid derivatives include ros- marinic acid in the volatile oil.

Dosage: Leaf—5-10 ml juice; 35 ml extract. (CCRAS.)
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Actaea Spicata

Linn.

Synonym: A. acuminata Wall. ex Royle

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: Native to Europe; grows in temperate Himalayas from Hazara to Bhutan.

English: Baneberry Grapewort.

Folk: Visha-phale (Kannada).

Action: Root—antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, nerve sedative, emetic, purgative; used in the treatment of rheumatic fever, lumbago, scrofula, nervous disorders, chorea.

The plant is reported to contain trans-aconitic acid, which shows a strong cytostatic action. Its Me ether is active against Ehrlich's ascites tumours.

In folk medicine, roots are used in cases of ovarian neuralgia, uterine tenderness and sub-involution. They are adulterant of the roots of Helleborus niger. Berries are poisonous; used topically for skin diseases. The toxic constituent is protoanemonin (lactone). It is irritant to mucous membrane.... actaea spicata

Mentha Aquatica

Linn.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Indian gardens.

English: Water Mint, Wild Mint.

Unani: Pudinaa Nahari.

Action: Leaf—stimulant, astringent. Used for diarrhoea and dysmenorrhoea.

The essential oil is composed of 40-50% menthofuran, with menthol, methyl acetate, pulegone among other constituents.... mentha aquatica

Mentha Arvensis

Linn. var. piperascens Holmes.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir.

English: Japanese Mint.

Unani: Naanaa.

Action: Carminative, chola- gogue, expectorant, antibacterial, antifungal.

Key application: Mint oil— internally for flatulence, functional gastrointestinal and gallbladder disorders; catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract. Externally, for myalgia and neuralgia. (German Commission E.)

Major components of the essential oil are menthol (up to 95%) and men- thone. Others are alpha-and beta- pinene, alpha-thujene, l-limonene, beta-phellandrene, furfural, methyl- cyclohexanone and camphene. The essential oil possesses both antibacterial and antifungal properties.

The leaves show anti-implantation effect. Seeds showed abortifacient activity (29%) in albino rats with marked malformations in neonates where pregnancy was not terminated.... mentha arvensis

Mentha Longifolia

(Linn.) Huds.

Synonym: M. sylvestris Linn.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

Habitat: Native to Europe and Asia; cultivated in Kashmir, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

English: English Horsemint.

Unani: Pudinaa-Barri, Jangali Pudinaa.

Action: Leaf and flowering top— carminative, stimulant, antiseptic, febrifuge. Used for digestive disorders and headaches. Essential oil—antibacterial.

Chief components of the volatile oil are 1,8-cineole 28.8, piperitone 13.9, cis- piperitone oxide 15.4 and piperitenone 13.8%. The aerial parts contain flavonoids—3'-hydroxy-4',5,6,7-tetra- methoxyflavone, hesperetin-7-rutino- side, luteolin, ursolic acid and beta- sitosterol. The essential oil acts as a CNS depressant and has somnifacient properties. Phenolic extract showed stimulative effect on CNS of mice. Administration of the oil leads to a drop in body temperature.

American Horsemint is equated with Monarda punctata L. The major component of the volatile oil is thymol. The leaves and tops are used as stimulant, carminative and emmenagogue.... mentha longifolia

Mentha Piperata

Linn. emend. Huds.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

Habitat: Native to Europe; cultivated in Maharashtra, Kashmir and Punjab.

English: Peppermint, Brandy Mint.

Ayurvedic: Vilaayati Pudinaa.

Action: Oil—digestive, carminative, chloretic, antispasmodic, diuretic, antiemetic, mild sedative, diaphoretic, antiseptic, antiviral, used in many mixtures of indigestion and colic and cough and cold remedies.

Key application: Leaf—internally for spastic complaints of the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder and bile ducts. (German Commission E, ESCOP.) The British Herbal Compendium indicates peppermint leaf for dyspepsia, flatulence, intestinal colic, and biliary disorders.

Key application: Oil—as a carminative. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) In spastic discomfort fo the upper gastrointestinal tract and bile ducts, irritable colon, the respiratory tract and inflammation of the oral mucosa. Externally, for myalgia and neuralgia. (German Commission E.) ESCOP indicates its use for irritable bowel syndrome, coughs and colds. Externally, for coughs and colds, rheumatic complaints, pruritus, urticaria, and pain in irritable skin conditions. (ESCOP.)

The essential oil has both antibacterial and antifungal properties.

The major constituents of the essential oil are: menthol, menthone, pulegone, menthofuran, 1,8-cineole, men- thyl acetate, isomenthone. The leaves contain flavonoid glycosides, erioc- itrin, luteolin 7-O-rutinoside, hesperi- din, isorhoifolin, diosmin, eriodictyol 7-O-glucoside and narirutin, besides rosmarinic acid, azulenes, cholene, carotenes.

Peppermint oil relaxed carvachol- contracted guinea-pig tenia coli, and inhibited spontaneous activity in guinea-pig colon and rabbit jejunum. It relaxes gastrointestinal smooth muscle by reducing calcium influx. Peppermint oil reduced gastric emptying time in dyspeptics.

The aqueous and ethanolic extracts exhibited antiviral activity against RPV (rinder pest virus), a highly contagious viral disease of cattle.... mentha piperata

Wagatea Spicata

Dalz.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Western Ghats.

Ayurvedic: Guchh-karanja.

Siddha: Okkadi-kodi, Pulinakk- agondai.

Folk: Vaakeri (Maharashtra). Caesalpinia digyna Rottl. is also known as Vaakeri.

Action: Roots—used in pneumonia. Bark—used externally in skin diseases.

The root contains vakerin. Vakerin did not inhibit the stimulating effect of histamine and acetylcholine.

Pods contain considerable quantity of tannic acid.... wagatea spicata

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