Mentha pulegium: A Plant With Several Medicinal Properties

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2023 Sep 14. doi: 10.2174/1871530323666230914103731. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe species Mentha pulegium L. (M. pulegium L.) belongs to the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and the genus Mentha. It has been traditionally used in food, cosmetics, and medicines. It is a perennial, fragrant, well-liked, herbaceous plant that can grow up to half a meter tall. It is extensively used as a food flavoring, particularly for Moroccan traditional drinks. Chewing mint and M. pulegium, a relaxing and refreshing plant, can be used to treat hiccups and act as an anticonvulsant and nerve relaxant. Pennyroyal leaves that have been crushed have a pungent, spearmint-like scent. Pennyroyal is used to make herbal teas, which, while not proven to be harmful to healthy adults in small doses, are not recommended due to their liver toxicity. Infants and children can die if they consume it. Pennyroyal leaves, both fresh and dried, are particularly effective at repelling insects. Pennyroyal essential oil should never be taken internally because it is highly toxic, even in small doses, it can be fatal. This plant is used in traditional Moroccan medicine to treat a wide range of conditions, including influenza, rheumatism, migraine, infertility, ulcer, pain, gastrointestinal problems, fever, diabetes, obesity, mental and cardiac disorders, constipation, respiratory ailments, and cough. M. pulegium is a great candidate fo...
Source: Endocrine, Metabolic and Immune Disorders Drug Targets - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Source Type: research