Spearmint

Overview

Native to much of Europe and Asia (Middle East, Himalayas, China etc.), and naturalized in parts of Northern and Western Africa, North and South America, as well as various oceanic islands. Spearmint characterized by its leaves essential oil and being used widely in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Vernacular Names

Gruene Minze (Germany), Menta verde (Italy), Groene munt (Netherlands), Groenmynta (Sweden), Menthe en epi (French), Liu lan xiang (Pinyin, China).

Agroecology

It succeeds in most soils and situations so long as the soil is not too dry. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers partial shade and a slightly acid soil. For commercial production, long midsummer days, full sun, and significant day/night temperature fluctuations are desirable.

Morphology

• Roots - taproot with wide spreading rhizomes.
• Stem - 4-sided.
• Leaves - light green and ovate to lanceolate with deep veins and serrate leaf margin, opposite arrangement and little to no petioles, hairless on both sides, rubbing the leaves releases a minty fragrance.
• Flowers - 3 mm long, tubular and 4-lobed, encircle the floral stalk near the tip and are arranged in a spike inflorescence (4 – 10 cm long). Long stamens extend past the petals.
• Fruits - smooth, ovate nutlets with a hairy apex. Nutlets are small, one-seeded fruits produced when the seed-bearing structure fragments. Each flower produces 4 nutlets. Mature fruit colour is brown.

Cultivation

• Generative propagation is by seed, sow spring in a cold frame. Germination is usually fairly quick.
• Propagate by division of roots or stem cuttings. Any part of the root is capable of growing into a new plant. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Chemical Constituents

β-karotene, β-sitosterol, borneol, ethanol, eugenol, geraniol, mentol, methionine, niasin, thiamin, karvone, minyak esensial (carvone, limonene, cineole, β-pinene).

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• M. spicata essential oil has potency for treatment of flatulence related to indigestion, cesarean section and dysmenorrhea.
• It can reduce the pain severity during the colonoscopy or dysmenorrheal conditions.
• The herb is antiemetic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, restorative, stimulant and stomachic.
• In Iran, used in folk medicine for treatment of bronchitis, nausea, flatulence, anorexia, liver complaints.
• M. spicata is used for treatment of oral ulcers, rabies and reducing the pain of bee stings, in Median centuries.
• In China, Mentha sp. is believed to have pungent, spicy and cool properties. It is used to clear the head and eyes and clear up rashes.
• In Ayurvedic medicine, Mentha sp. was used to help digestive conditions, skin problems, and headaches; both the essential oil and the stems are used in folk remedies for cancer; a poultice prepared from the leaves to remedy tumours.