Botanical Name : Mentha spicata Linn. emend. Nathh.
Family : Labiatae; Lamiaceae
Identification No.: SDACH/HG/223
Introduction :
Scientific classification: Mints make up the family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae) of the order Lamiales. The well-known mint genus is Mentha. Peppermint is classified as Mentha piperita, spearmint asMentha spicata, and pennyroyal as Mentha pulegium. Lavender is classified in the genus Lavendula and shellflower in the genus Molucella.
Names in different Indian languages :
English : Mint
Hindi : Pudinaa
Kannada : Chetamarugu
Malayalam : Pudinaa
Sanskrit : Pudinaa
Tamil : Pudinaa
Telugu : Pudinaa
Unani : Nanaa, Pudinaa Kohi
Synonyms :
Pudinaa, Podinaka, Puutihaa, Rochini.
Mentha viridis Linn
Morphology :
Annual shrub having strong smell.
Leaves – tender with serrated margins.
Flower stalk bears inflorescence all around
Varieties :
It has many varieties. They are also classified according to their locations like jungle, mountains and marshy land.
Distribution & Habitat :
Cultivated
Chemical constituents :
Carvone, limonene , flavonoids, diosmin , diosmetin, Caffeic acid , rosmarinic acid
Properties :
Guna : laghu, ruksha, tikshna;
Rasa : katu;
Vipaka : katu;
Virya : ushna;
Karma :
Rochani, deepana, pachana, balya, mutrala, rakta sodana, samgrahi
Carminative, stimulant, antispasmodic, antiemetic, diaphoretic, antiseptic.
Indication :
Agnimandya, visuchika, jirna jwara, krimi, swasa
fever, skin disease, cough, , dysentery, gout, burning sensation, dyspepsia, cephalgia, worm infection
Part used :
Leaves
Dosage :
Leaf juice 10-15 ml
Powder 2-4 g
Decoction 50-100 ml
Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses
External uses :
Analgesic, deodorant, antiseptic and wound healing. Its oil is also is used. Lea mixed with water is used for gargles as a mouth freshener. Leaves are spread on the, patient’s bed suffering from fever
Internal uses :
Its paste is used as an appetizer, antiemetic, carminative and anthelmintic. Juice is used in cardiac debility, cough, asthma, hiccups. It is also useful in dysuria, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, puerperal fever, skin diseases, common fever and poisoning.
Yoga / Formulations
- Common in Unani and folk herbal formulations
- Present in herbal teas, syrups, and lozenges
IUCN Status
Not Evaluated (NE)
Research Updates
- Gastroprotective effect: Mentha spicata leaf extracts help in reducing gastric ulcers and improving digestion by modulating gastric secretions.
- Anti-inflammatory activity: Demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in experimental models, supporting its use in pain and swelling.
- Cognitive enhancement: Aromatherapy with spearmint oil is associated with improved memory and reduced mental fatigue, showing promise for neurocognitive support.
