Mentha spicata
Spearmint
Mentha spicata, commonly known as spearmint, is a perennial herb celebrated for its refreshing aroma and versatile medicinal properties. Rich in carvone, it is widely used to soothe digestive issues, alleviate nausea, and reduce stress. This aromatic plant remains a staple in herbal remedies and culinary applications worldwide.
- Scientific name: Mentha spicata
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Mentha, specifically as the species Mentha spicata.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Mentha | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, scientifically known as Mentha spicata, is widely recognized across different regions and linguistic groups. In Chinese, it is commonly referred to by several names depending on the specific locale: it is known as 留兰香 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans, zh-cn), 留蘭香 in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), 留兰香 in Hong Kong (zh-hk), and also as 留兰香 in Singapore (zh-sg).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 留兰香 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 留蘭香 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 留蘭香 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 留兰香 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 留兰香 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 留蘭香 | Wikidata |
| pms | Mentha viridis | Wikidata |
| pl | mięta zielona | Wikidata |
| qu | Ispiha muña | Wikidata |
| hu | fodormenta | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally in the country of Denmark. Its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland as well. Additionally, the species is established in the Scandinavian territories of Norway and Sweden. These locations collectively represent its significant geographical range across the northern part of the continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as spearmint, is a versatile herb widely valued for its aromatic properties. The most significant part used in therapeutic applications is the leaf, as each individual leaves structure contains specialized glands that produce a potent essential oil. When the plant is harvested, this concentrated essential oils extract is often collected to be used in various medicinal and culinary products.- Total parts
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 16
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| essential oils | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oil | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| herb | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial part | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Mentha spicata has 100 reported phytochemicals identified across 138 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include carvone, flavonoids, limonene, menthol, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 100
- Scientific sources
- 138
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| carvone | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| flavonoids | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| limonene | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| menthol | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| tannins | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| rosmarinic acid | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| (S)-(+)-carvone | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,8-cineole | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthraquinones | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Mentha spicata has 16 reported activities identified across 29 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic.
- Total activities
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 29
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antibacterial | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiparasitic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Mentha spicata has 44 reported medicinal uses identified across 52 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, colon cancer, flatulence, gastrointestinal disorders, indigestion.
- Total uses
- 44
- Scientific sources
- 52
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| oxidative stress | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| colon cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flatulence | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| indigestion | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| salinity stress | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's Disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus flavus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |