Phytochemical Composition of Mint (Mentha), its Nutritional and Pharmacological Potential

Abstract

Current studies were made to investigate the phytochemical, nutritional and medicinal importance of the mint plant. Mint plantgenerally contains menthol (40.7%), menthone (23.4%), methylacetate (0.7-23%), eucalyptol (1-13%), carveol (0.31%), piperitone (3.20%) and fiber (1.75%±0.1). The important nutritional contents include iron (0.262%), calcium (0.158%), phytic acid (0.00092%), proteins (0.6%), vitamin E (9.89±0.15%), ascorbic acid (0.96±0.06%) and axerophthol (0.426±0.05%). Mint is one of most familiar plants that iswidely cultivated throughout the planet. The plant finds immense importance in the pharmaceutical and food industry. The plant also finds colossal applicationsas antimicrobial,n anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. The promising capability of the plant towards the field of therapeutic drugs development has been widely investigated.