Morphological information

An erect, hairy or glabrous herb, 10- 60 cm high. Leaves 2.5- 5 cm long, shortly petioled or sessile, oblong- ovate or lanceolate obtusely or acute serrate at the base sparsely hairy or almost glabrous. Flowers lilac, on axillary, capitate whorls, borne on axils of leafs on upper stem.

Flowering                            : July-September

Fruiting                                :

History                                :

Parts                                   : Whole plant.

Status                                 : Cultivated, endangered in wild.

Phytochemistry

 Essential oil from Vietnamese plants found to contain menthol (15.6- 45.0), menthone (12.5- 26.0), pulegone (8.226.0), piperitone oxide (3.2- 14.5) and piperitenone oxide (2.6- 22.8%) (Rastit. Resur.1986, 22, 96; Chem. Abstr. 1986, 104, 155687 u); determination of linalool (48.5), geraniol (10.3), a and P- citral (6.2), linalyl acetate (5.3), geranyl acetate (4.6), nerol (3.3), α- pinene (1.62), citronellol (1.48) limonene (1.0), β-pinene (0.65) and piperitone (0.5%) in essential oil by GC(Izv. Acad. Nauk Mold. SSR, Ser. Biol. Khim. Nauk 1989, 75; Chem. Abstr. 1989, 111, 191519 u)

 

Agrocultivation

Rooted suckers taken from old vigorous plants propagate the plant. It thrives well on sandy or loamy soils rich in humus. A well drained soil, with slight rain in spring and bright sunshine in summer gives plants with high menthol control. Loberol irrigation is necessary. A basal dressing of farmyard manure and composte at 12 tons per acre followed by supplementary dressing of inorganic fertilization.

 

Medicinal

Field mint is used locally as a stimulant and carminative. An infusion of leaves affords as a remedy for rheumatism and indigestion, antispasmodic, stomachic refrigerant and diuretic. During pharmacological studies Mentha arvensis leaf extract if taken for 10 days a pregnancy did significant antifertility effect in female rats.

 

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