Phytochemical and nutra-pharmaceutical attributes of Mentha spp.: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Medicinal plants are considered colossal producers of bioactive therapeutics agents. The genus Mentha possesses commercial values owing to its aromatic species. Despite its traditional applications in food flavoring, Mentha spp. such as Mentha piperita (peppermint), M. aquatica (water mint), M. spicata (spearmint), and M. arvensis (wild mint) are widely used for treating not only cold and fever but also gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular disorders as folk medicines. It has revealed a plethora of biological traits viz. antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, insecticidal, and anti-inflammatory activities. Generally, the presence of bioactive phytochemicals is the prime reason for the traditional pharmacological activities of Mentha spp. A rich source of potential phytoconstituents of Mentha spp. is an important agent for designing nutrapharmaceuticals. The current review paper discusses the different phytochemical, traditional medicinal features, and prime therapeutic properties of some of the most commonly used Mentha spp. Also, this paper summarizes the role of various metabolites of Mentha towards the development of therapeutic drugs in the future.

Keywords

• Biological traits
• Mentha spp.
• Pharmaceutics
• Secondary metabolites
• Therapeutic properties