pancakes的部落格

胡椒薄荷(Peppermint，Mentha × piperita)

唇形科(Lamiaceae)薄荷屬(Mentha)

學名：Mentha × piperita

中文名：胡椒薄荷

圖1：胡椒薄荷(Mentha × piperita)#1

胡椒薄荷是由綠薄荷(Mentha spicata L.)和檸檬薄荷(Mentha aquatica L.)雜交培植而成#2，蒸餾整株開花的胡椒薄荷可得薄荷油#3。美國藥典定義薄荷油應含不低於5%的menthyl acetate，以及不低於50%的游離薄荷醇和薄荷酯(menthol esters)#3-4。

【生理活性】

薄荷油含多種成分，主要有薄荷醇(menthol ，55.0%)、薄荷酮(menthone，14.0-32.0%)、桉油醇(cineole，3.5-14.0%)、乙酸薄荷酯(menthyl acetate，2.8-10.0%)、異薄荷酮(isomenthone ，1.5-10.0%)薄荷呋喃(menthofuran ，1.0 -9.0%)、檸烯(limonene，1.0-5.0%)、胡薄荷酮(pulegone，4.0%)和香芹酮(carvone，max.1.0%)#5。

民俗療法

傳統醫學使用薄荷葉作為利膽藥或治療消化疾病，例如消化不良、脹氣和腸胃炎。也可治腹瀉、支氣管炎、痢疾、經痛、發燒、高血壓、肝膽失調、泌尿道和呼吸道感染。還會當作通經劑、促進乳汁分泌劑、殺蟲劑和鎮靜劑。#2

英國草藥典描述能治療脹氣、痙攣和促進膽汁分泌#2。德國草藥專論(German Commission E monographs)記載，薄荷油(葉)內服可抗痙攣(上腸胃道和膽管)，治療腸躁症、呼吸道黏膜炎和口腔黏膜發炎。外用有緩解肌肉疼痛和神經痛的效果。另外也有利膽、排脹氣、抑菌、化痰和降溫等療效。#3

抗氧化

體外實驗的研究結果#6，胡椒薄荷酒精萃取物可有效抑制油脂氧化，效果大幅優於同一實驗的甜羅勒酒精萃取物。在高血脂大鼠的實驗#7，胡椒薄荷葉水萃取物不僅能優化脂肪組成，降低血糖、膽固醇和三酸甘油酯，還有減少油脂氧化和提高抗氧化酵素活性的功效。

抗菌

胡椒薄荷精油和萃取物具有抑菌功效#8-11。萃取物可抑制嗜熱鏈球菌(Streptococcus thermophilus)和保加利亞乳桿菌 (Lactobacillus bulgaricus)的生長#10。薄荷醇和精油能抑制金黃釀膿葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus pyogenes)、金黃色葡萄球菌、黏質沙雷菌(Serratia marcescens)、大腸桿菌和鳥結核分枝桿菌(Mycobacterium avium)，也可抑制真菌白色念珠菌、Aspergillus albus和皮癬菌類(dermatophytic fungi)#8, 10。

抗發炎、抗癌

發炎反應除了和多種慢性病有關，近年研究表示它也是腫瘤生長的重要原因#12。多篇研究指胡椒薄荷可預防發炎和血管增生#13-15。它的甲醇萃取物可抑制小鼠白血病細胞(L1210)#16。N-乙醯氨基轉移酵素(N-acetyltransferase)能將環境化學物質在體內代謝成致癌物，高濃度的薄荷醇可抑制人類肝癌細胞內N-乙醯氨基轉移酵素(N-acetyltransferase)活性，阻止體內致癌物產生#17。

抗痙攣、改善腸胃疾病

薄荷油藉由減少大腸和空腸(jejunum)鈣離子通道的穿透性#18有鬆弛腸胃平滑肌效果#19，能改善腸躁症和痙攣反應。薄荷油和薄荷醇關閉鈣離子通道的特性在大鼠、豚鼠的心肌或腦中突觸，以及小雞視網膜神經實驗都能見到#1。57位腸躁症患者餐與的臨床試驗#20，實驗組口服薄荷油腸衣膠囊每日2次(450毫克薄荷油/日)持續4周，結果症狀改善50%以上的患者，實驗組有75%，對照組僅38%。

抗過敏

大鼠口服薄荷葉的50%酒精萃取物能有效抑制過敏反應，研究證明濃度在 3 μg/ml即可減少組織胺的釋放， 口服劑量在300 和1000 mg/kg可顯著抑制噴嚏、揉鼻等抗原引起的過敏#21。作者再純化有效成分，結果確認黃酮類的木犀草素-7-O-芸香糖甙(luteolin-7-O-rutinoside)是發揮抗過敏的主要成分#22。

減少疲憊、提神、增加活力

將薄荷油腹腔注射於小鼠，結果小鼠活動力顯著提高，後續研究發現桉油醇、薄荷酮、異薄荷酮、薄荷醇、(R)-(+)-胡薄荷酮、乙酸薄荷酯和石竹烯(caryophyllene)這些薄荷油所含的成分都能明顯增加小鼠活力，此外，若將腹腔注射改成靜脈點滴注射(Intravenous administration)，則效果更佳#23。也有其它研究表示#24，薄荷油似乎能改善白天嗜睡情況，不過這作用機轉和可靠性需再進一步研究。

改善呼吸道感染

有研究分析市面上27種茶包或草藥型態的薄荷茶#25，結果發現主要的多酚成分有聖草次甘(Eriocitrin)、12-hydroxyjasmonate sulfate、木犀草素-7-芸香糖甙和迷迭香酸。隨機選7種樣品檢測肺炎披衣菌(C. pneumoniae)的抑制力，結果7種樣品在濃度250 微克/毫克時都能有效抑制，程度約20.7–69.5%，其中有些樣品還表現出正比關係，對於急性的呼吸道感染有正面助益。

建議治療方式

抗痙攣的口服建議方式為5滴薄荷油兌10毫升水#26；治療消化道疾病可適量稀釋薄荷油0.2-0.4毫升，每日3次#27；餐前服用薄荷油0.2毫升兌25毫升水能緩和消化不良#28；餐前或用餐時服用含0.2毫升薄荷油膠囊，每日3次持續2-3周可改善腸躁症#29-35，病況嚴重可將療程增到6周#33。

將毛巾浸入含有0.5-1.0毫升薄荷油的2公升熱水，然後放在腹部20-30分鐘每日3次，能緩和腹部脹氣#36。哺乳後塗擦含有0.2% v/w薄荷油的凝膠14天，有預防乳頭破皮效果#37-38。使用2-4滴含10%薄荷醇的按摩油每日3-4次按摩患處，可治療帶狀疱疹感染後神經痛(Postherpetic Neuralgia)#39。

纖維支氣管鏡檢查前吸聞3毫升含1%薄荷醇溶液能預防咳嗽#40；5小時內每隔1小時吸聞含75%薄荷醇的尤加利精油可治咳嗽#41。3-4滴薄荷油加進熱水並嗅聞能治鼻塞。工作中添加4滴精油在擴香儀可增進記憶和注意力#42。

可能風險

成人口服薄荷油最佳劑量和方式是每日3次0.2-0.4毫升的薄荷油腸溶膠囊(enteric-coated capsules)#1。應避免外用薄荷油在幼兒臉部或胸部，尤其是鼻周，可能誘發窒息、喉嚨或支氣管痙攣，以及急性的呼吸衰竭#43。薄荷醇可能會增進其它皮膚用藥的經皮吸收率#3。小鼠、大鼠和倉鼠口服薄荷醇的實驗，每日吃190, 220, 400和430 毫克/公斤體重的最高劑量不會產出有缺陷的胎兒#2。雖然沒有任何研究探討，但著有Clinical Aromatherapy的作者Jane Buckle會建議癲癇患者避開迷迭香、茴香、牛膝草松樟酮 (Hyssopus officinalis CT pinocamphone)和胡椒薄荷精油#44。

【芳療功效】

臨床顯示，吸聞薄荷醇能有效減少呼吸道的不適#45，並可減少慢性咳嗽及咳嗽敏感度(cough sensitivity)#46。薄荷油香氣是美國海軍測試防毒面具的方法，它的香氣成分穿透力極高，能通過充滿鼻涕的鼻竇，所以也有緩解鼻竇炎功效#44。

11位長期住院的長者，使用2%玫瑰天竺葵和胡椒薄荷精油的按摩油(荷荷芭基底油)，每周2次給予5分鐘按摩持續4周，結果健康問卷評量顯示，能有效降低心理壓力#47。

50位化療患者參與的臨床試驗#48，實驗組在化療前以及4小時、8小時後，分別給予含2滴綠薄荷或胡椒薄荷精油的膠囊，結果顯示口服綠薄荷或胡椒薄荷的組別比起對照組，因化療產生的噁心感都顯著降低。

【料理應用】

5 微升/毫升濃度的胡椒薄荷精油加入腰果、芭樂、芒果和鳳梨汁中，在1小時內即能有效殺菌，濃度在1.25 微升/毫升以下不影響甜度、酸度或pH，不過會降低風味和顧客的整體接受度，若換成土薄荷(Mentha arvensis)精油，殺菌效果會更好#49。

香草的保存實驗描述#50，生鮮胡椒薄荷經清洗浸泡氯水殺菌再去除殘留水後，使用PVC保鮮膜包覆儲藏於0℃21天，仍能有效維持色澤、葉綠素、胡蘿蔔素和抗氧化物含量，且香氣增加。

餵食含有20–30 g/kg胡椒薄荷飼料的7天大日本鵪鶉，經5周飼養後，吃含有胡椒薄荷飼料的鵪鶉，其總膽固醇、三酸甘油酯、壞膽固醇和油脂氧化物明顯比對照組少，好膽固醇顯著增加。料理時的肉汁和肉損失也很明顯減少#51。

參考文獻：

(1)Masomeh L, Narges M, Hassan R, Hadi A (2017) Peppermint and Its Functionality: A Review. Arch Clin Microbiol. Vol. 8 No. 4:54.

(2)European Medicines Agency, 2008, Assessment report on Mentha x piperita L., folium.

(3)Anon.(2011) An Evidence-based Systematic Review of Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Natural Standard Research Collaboration.(https://www.probotanic.com/pdf_istrazivanja/ulje_peperminta/Sistemski%20pregled%20zdravstvenih%20pogodnosti%20ulja%20peperminta%20(Mentha%20piperita).pdf) accessed 12 July 2018.

(4)Eickholt, T. H. and Box, R. H. Toxicities of peppermint and Pycnanthemun albescens oils, fam. Labiateae. J Pharm Sci 1965;54(7):1071-1072.

(5)Balakrishnan A . Therapeutic Uses of Peppermint -A Review J Pharm Sci & Res. 2015;7(7):474-6.

(6)Mairapetyan S, Alexanyan J, Tovmasyan A, Daryadar M, Stepanian B, Mamikonyan V. Productivity, biochemical indices and antioxidant activity of Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in condition of hydroponics. J. Sci. Technol. Environ. Inform., 2016 May; 3(2): 191-194.

(7)Badal RM, Badal D, Badal P, Khare A, Shrivastava J, Kumare V. Pharmacological Action of Mentha piperita on Lipid Profile in Fructose-Fed Rats. Iran J Pharm Res., 2011 Autumn; 10(4): 843–848.

(8)El-Kady IA, El-Maraghy SSM, Mostafa ME. Antibacterial and antidermatophyte activities of some essential oils from spices. Qatar University Science Journal 1993; 13:63-69.

(9)Pattnaik S, Subramanyam VR, Kole C. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro. Microbios 1996; 86:237-46.

(10)Pattnaik S, Subramanyam VR, Bapaji M, Kole CR. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of aromatic constituents of essential oils. Microbios 1997; 89:39-46.

(11)Moleyar V, Narasimham P. Antibacterial activity of essential oil components. Int J of Food Microbiology 1992; 16:337 - 342.

(12)Sun Z, Wang H, Wang J, Zhou L, Yang P (2014) Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of essential oil from leaves of mentha piperita grown in china. PloS one 9: e114-767.

(13)Kaefer CM, Milner JA (2008) The role of herbs and spices in cancer prevention. J Nutr Biochem 19: 347-361.

(14)Yadav VR, Prasad S, Sung B, Kannappan R, Aggarwal BB (2010) Targeting inflammatory pathways by triterpenoids for prevention and treatment of cancer. Toxins 2: 2428-2466.

(15)Kale A, Gawande S, Kotwal S (2008) Cancer phytotherapeutics: Role for flavonoids at the cellular level. Phytother Res 22: 567-577.

(16)Kim, S.; Cho, Y.; Park, S. Cytotoxicity of methanol extracts of edible herbs against L1210 cells with the changes of antioxidant enzymes activities. Korean J. Pharm. 2002, 33, 376–383.

(17)Lin J-P, Li Y-C, Lin W-C, Hsieh C-L, Chung J-G (2001) Effects of menthol on arylamine n-acetyltransferase activity in human liver tumor cells. Am J Chin Med 29: 321-329

(18)Sadraei H, Asghari G, Alipour M (2016) Anti-spasmodic assessment of hydroalcoholic extract and essential oil of aerial part of pycnocycla caespitosa boiss. & hausskn on rat ileum contractions. Res Pharm Sci 11: 33-37.

(19)Nissen L, Lau E (2016) Old drug new indication: Antihistamine for the pain in your stomach? Australian Pharmacist 35: 32-35.

(20)Cappello G, Spezzaferro M, Grossi L, Manzoli L, Marzio L. Peppermint oil (mintoil) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective double blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Dig Liver Dis. 2007; 39(6):530-536.

(21)Inoue T, Sugimoto Y, Masuda H, et al: Effect of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) extracts on experimental allergic rhinitis in rats. Biol Pharm Bull 24: 92–95, 2001.

(22)Inoue, T., Sugimoto, Y., Masuda, H., & Kamei, C. (2002). Antiallergic Effect of Flavonoid Glycosides Obtained from Mentha piperita L. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 25(2), 256-259.

(23)Toyoshi Umezu, Akiko Sakata and Hiroyasu Ito. Ambulation promoting effect of peppermint oil and identification of its active constituents. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 69 (2001) 383–390.

(24)Mark Ian Keith Norrish and Katie Louise Dwyer. Preliminary investigation of the effect of peppermint oil on an objective measure of daytime sleepiness. International Journal of Psychophysiology. 55 (2005) 291– 298.

(25)Kappa K, Hakala E, Orav A, Pohjala A, Vuorela P, Püssa T, Vuorela H, Raal A. Commercial peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) teas: antichlamydial effects and polyphenolic composition. Food Res Intl. 2013;53:758–766.

(26)Pimentel, M., Bonorris, G. G., Chow, E. J., and Lin, H. C. Peppermint oil improves the manometric findings in diffuse esophageal spasm. J Clin Gastroenterol 2001;33(1):27-31.

(27)Giachetti D, Taddei E, and Taddei T. Pharmacological activity of Mentha piperita, Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis essences on Oddi's sphincter. Planta Med 1986;52:543-544.

(28)Dalvi, S. S., Nadkarni, P. M., Pardesi, R., and Gupta, K. C. Effect of peppermint oil on gastric emptying in man: a preliminary study using a radiolabelled solid test meal. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1991;35(3):212-214.

(29)Carling L, Svedberg L, and Hultsen S. Short term treatment of the irritable bowel syndrome: a placebo-controlled trial of peppermint oil against hyoscyamine. Opuscula Med 1989;34:55-57.

(30)Dew, M. J., Evans, B. K., and Rhodes, J. Peppermint oil for the irritable bowel syndrome: a multicentre trial. Br J Clin Pract. 1984;38(11-12):394-398.

(31)Nash, P., Gould, S. R., and Bernardo, D. E. Peppermint oil does not relieve the pain of irritable bowel syndrome. Br.J Clin Pract. 1986;40(7):292-293.

(32)Rees, W. D., Evans, B. K., and Rhodes, J. Treating irritable bowel syndrome with peppermint oil. Br Med J 10-6-1979;2(6194):835-836.

(33)Rhodes J, Evans BK, and Rees WD. Peppermint oil in enteric coated capsules for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a double blind controlled trial. Hepato-Gastroenterology 1980;27(Suppl):252.

(34)Evans BK, Levine DF, Mayberry JF, and et al. Multicentre trial of peppermint oil capsules in irritable bowel syndrome. Scand J Gastroenterol 1982;17:503.

(35)Logan, A. C. and Beaulne, T. M. The treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth with enteric- coated peppermint oil: A case report. Altern Med Rev 2002;7(5):410-417.

(36)Feng, X. Z. [Effect of peppermint oil hot compresses in preventing abdominal distension in postoperative gynecological patients]. Zhonghua Hu Li Za Zhi. 1997;32(10):577-578.

(37)Melli, M. S., Rashidi, M. R., Nokhoodchi, A., Tagavi, S., Farzadi, L., Sadaghat, K., Tahmasebi, Z., and Sheshvan, M. K. A randomized trial of peppermint gel, lanolin ointment, and placebo gel to prevent nipple crack in primiparous breastfeeding women. Med Sci Monit. 2007;13(9):CR406-CR411.

(38)Sayyah, Melli M., Rashidi, M. R., Delazar, A., Madarek, E., Kargar Maher, M. H., Ghasemzadeh, A., Sadaghat, K., and Tahmasebi, Z. Effect of peppermint water on prevention of nipple cracks in lactating primiparous women: a randomized controlled trial. Int Breastfeed.J 2007;2:7.

(39)Davies, S. J., Harding, L. M., and Baranowski, A. P. A novel treatment of postherpetic neuralgia using peppermint oil. Clin J Pain 2002;18(3):200-202.

(40)Haidl, P., Kemper, P., Butnarasu, S. J., Klauke, M., Wehde, H., and Kohler, D. [Does the inhalation of a 1% L-menthol solution in the premedication of fiberoptic bronchoscopy affect coughing and the sensation of dyspnea?]. Pneumologie 2001;55(3):115-119.

(41)Morice, A. H., Marshall, A. E., Higgins, K. S., and Grattan, T. J. Effect of inhaled menthol on citric acid induced cough in normal subjects. Thorax 1994;49(10):1024-1026.

(42)Moss, M., Hewitt, S., Moss, L., and Wesnes, K. Modulation of cognitive performance and mood by aromas of peppermint and ylang-ylang. Int J Neurosci. 2008;118(1):59-77.

(43)Wyllie, J. P. and Alexander, F. W. Nasal instillation of 'Olbas Oil' in an infant. Arch Dis Child 1994;70(4):357-358.

(44)Jane Buckle, PhD, RN, Clinical Aromatherapy: Essential Oils in Healthcare (Third Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2015)

(45)Nishino T, Tagaito Y, Sakurai Y. Nasal inhalation of L-menthol reduces respiratory discomfort associated with loaded breathing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1997;156:309–313.

(46)Millqvist E, Ternesten-Hasséus E, Bende M. (2012) Inhalation of menthol reduces capsaicin cough sensitivity and influences inspiratory flows in chronic cough. Respir Med 107(3):433–438.

(47)Satou T, Chikama M, Chikama Y, Hachigo M, Urayama H, Murakami S, Hayashi S, Koikem K. Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Elderly Patients Under Long-Term Hospitalization in Japan. J Altern Complement Med. 2013. 19(3):235-237.

(48)Tayarani-Najaran, Z, E Talasaz-Firoozi, R Nasiri, N Jalali, and M Hassanzadeh. 2013. Antiemetic activity of volatile oil from Mentha spicata and Mentha × piperita in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Ecancermedicalscience. 7:290.

(49)De Sousa Guedes, J. P.; Da Costa Medeiros, J. A.; De Souza E Silva, R. S.; De Sousa, J. M. B.; Da Conceição, M. L.; De Souza, E. L. The Efficacy of Mentha arvensis L. and M. piperita L. Essential Oils in Reducing Pathogenic Bacteria and Maintaining Quality Characteristics in Cashew, Guava, Mango, and Pineapple Juices. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 2016, 238, 183–192.

(50)Curutchet A, Dellacassa E, Ringuelet JA, Chaves AR, Viña SZ. (2014) Nutritional and sensory quality during refrigerated storage of fresh-cut mints (Mentha x piperita and M. spicata). Food chemistry, 143, 231-238.

(51)Mehri, M., Sabaghi, V. and Bagherzadeh-Kasmani, F., 2015. Mentha piperita (Peppermint) in growing Japanese quails’ diet: Serum biochemistry, meat quality, humoral immunity. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2015;. 206: 57-66.