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

 
MEDICINAL USES 
Uses supported by clinical data: Internally for 
symptomatic treatment of irritable bowel 
syndrome, and digestive disorders such as 
flatulence and gastritis. Externally for treatment 
of myalgia and headache. 
 
Uses described in pharmacopoeias and in 
traditional systems of medicine: Internally and 
externally for the symptomatic treatment of 
catarrh and coughs. 
 
Uses described in folk medicine, not supported 
by experimental or clinical data: Treatment of 
dysentery, diabetes, dysmenorrhoea, fevers, 
jaundice and urinary infections. 
 
PHARMACOLOGY 
OF 
AETHEROLEUM 
MENTHAE PIPERIATA (PEPPERMINT OIL)
 
 
Experimental Pharmacology 
Antimicrobial And Anti-Plasmid Activity
5
: 
The antimicrobial activities were determined on 
the Gram (+) Staphylococcus epidermidis and 
the Gram (-) Escherichia coli F'lac K12 LE140, 
and on two yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae 
0425 
delta/1 
and 
0425 
52C 
strains. 
Aetheroleum Menthae Piperitae inhibited the 
growth in vitro of Staphylococcusaureus, 
Pseudomonas 
aeruginosa, 
Bacillus 
subtilis, 
Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli, but 
did not affect the growth of Bacillus cereus, 
Penicillium 
cyclopiumor 
or 
Aspergillus 
aegyptiacus. The essential oil inhibited the 
growth in vitroof Trichophyton equinum and T. 
rubrum (at a concentration of 0.4mg/ml) 
Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus and A. niger. The 
antiplasmid activities were investigated on E. 
coli F’lac bacterial strain. Each of the oils 
exhibited antimicrobial activity and three of 
them antiplasmid action. Experiments proved 
the antiplasmid activity of peppermint oil and its 
main constituent, menthol, which means that 

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