An overview on menthae piperitae (peppermint oil) Article · January 013 citations 16 reads 3,439 authors

 
STANDARDS
1
 
Peppermint Oil contains less than 4.5%w/w and 
not more than 10%w/w of esters, calculated 
Review Article 
ABSTRACT 
Aetheroleum Menthae Piperitae is the essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the fresh 
overground parts of 
Mentha 
x 
piperita 
L. (Lamiaceae). It colourless, pale yellow or pale 
greenish-yellow liquid, The monoterpene content determined by gas chromatography should be 
1,8-cineole (6–14%), limonene (1–5%), menthone (14–32%), menthofuran (1–9%), 
isomenthone (2–10%), menthyl acetate (3–5%), menthol (30–55%), pulegone. The major 
constituents are menthol (30–55%) and menthone (14–32%). Menthol occurs mostly in the free 
alcohol form, with small quantities as the acetate (3–5%) and valerate esters. Other 
monoterpenes present include isomenthone (2–10%), 1,8-cineole (6–14%), a-pinene (1.0–
1.5%), b-pinene (1–2%), limonene (1–5%), neomenthol (2.5–3.5%) and menthofuran (1–9%). 
Internally for symptomatic treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, and digestive disorders such 
as flatulence and gastritis dysentery, diabetes, dysmenorrhoea, fevers, jaundice, urinary 
infections. Externally for treatment of myalgia and headache.
 
Keywords:
Mentha, essential oil, menthol. 

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IJPCBS 2013, 3(3), 834-838 Anupam et al. ISSN: 2249-9504
835 
asmethyl acetate, C
12
H
22
O
2
, not less than 44% 
w/w of free alcohols, calculated as menthol, 
C
10
H
20
O, and not less than 15%w/w and not 
more than 32%w/w of ketones, calculated as 
menthone, C
10
H
18
O. 
 
EVALUATION: ESSENTIAL OIL 
International Pharmacopoeia monograph
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