What Gives Peppermint Its Power?

Peppermint contains many natural compounds, but two very different groups are especially important.

Alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extracts of peppermint are rich in polyphenols, particularly rosmarinic acid. They also contain caffeic, ferulic and chlorogenic acids, as well as flavonoids such as eriocitrin and luteolin derivatives. These compounds are studied mainly for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Peppermint essential oil is quite different. Its characteristic compound is menthol, accompanied by menthone and several other volatile substances. Menthol produces the familiar cooling sensation of peppermint and can also relax smooth muscles in the digestive system.

This distinction matters: peppermint extract and peppermint essential oil are not the same preparation. They contain different active compounds and may therefore have different effects in the body. Even the composition of peppermint oil can vary depending on the plant variety, where it was grown, when it was harvested and how the oil was extracted.