504 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Mentha Piperita. Peppermint. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Folia (herba) menthae piperitae, P.G.; menthe 

 poivree, Fr.; pfeffermiiize, G. 



The leaves and tops of Mentha piperita Smith (nat. ord. 

 Labiatae). 



Habitat. — Indigenonsin North America,Europe and Asia. 



Description. — Leaves about 5 Cm. long, petiolate, ovate- 

 lanceolate, acute, sharply serrate, glandular, nearly smooth ; 

 the few hairs containing crystals of menthol in one or more 

 thin cells ; branches quadrangular, often purplish ; flowers in 

 terminal, conical spikes, with a tubular, five-toothed, often 

 purplish calyx, a purplish four-lobed corolla, and four short 

 stamens ; odor aromatic ; taste pungent and cooling. 



Constituents. — 1, a volatile oil ; 2, menthol ; 3, menthene 

 (C„H„). 



Oleum Mentha Piperita. Oil of Peppermint. 

 (U. S. k B. P.) 



Synonym. — Essence de menthe poivree, Fr.; pfeffer- 

 minzol, G. 



A volatile oil distilled from peppermint. 



Properties. — A colorless, or yellowish, or greenish-yellow 

 liquid, becoming darker and thicker by age and exposure to 

 the air ; having the characteristic strong odor of peppermint, 

 and a strongly aromatic, pungent taste, followed by a sensa- 

 tion of cold when air is drawn into the mouth. Spec. gr. 

 0.9 to 0.920. 



It forms a clear solution with an equal volume of alcohol, 

 but becomes turbid when somewhat further diluted. 



Constitiients. — 1, menthol ; 2, menthene, a liquid terpene 

 obtained by distillation. 



Dose.—R. k C, H^xv.-xxx. (1.-2.) ; D., TTli-v. (.06-.3). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Spiritus Menthce Piperitce. Spirit of Peppermint. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Synonym.— l^ssence de menthe poivree, Fr.; Englisch pfeffermin- 

 zessenz, G.; spiritus menthae piperitse anglicus, P.G. 



