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,
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.