Classification of the genus mentha on the basic of morphology is very difficult since their biodiversity and the genus mentha is quite easy to turn into morphological variation, or develop to hybrid species. These species chemical composition of essential oils have been intensively studied. On the basic of the major constituents, the following chemotypes of wild mints from Vietnam were found: piperitone oxide -pulegone, pulegone - menthol, menthylacetate - menthol, menthol - isomenthone, dihydrocarvylacetate - carvone - limonene, limonene - carvone - dihydrocarvone. It is necessary now for governmental offices and people from country side and high mountain to take an active role in the conservation of this genus for their economical and ecological reasons.
Mentha ; Species Specificity

French spearmint was imported into Vietnam in 1996 and cultivated in Ha Noi. In the first year, it was cultivated by seeds and since the second year it has been planted by stolons. Every year, planting is done in February – March and the crop reaches full blooming in June. The Russian cultivar is also cultivated in Sa Pa (Lao Cai province). Both samples of Mentha spicata essential oil were analyzed by GC/RI, GC/MS and 13C-NMR. In total, 39 compounds have been identified, 28 in the first sample, 31 in the second.
Plants ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; oils

Background: Medicinal plants are widely used for healthcare needs, including oral health. In the Philippines, garlic, guava, tsaang-gubat, and hierba buena, although primarily recognized as plants used for the treatment of systemic diseases, are indicated as analgesics for dental pain, treatment of gingival inflammation, and oral health maintenance. Despite studies focusing on the effectiveness of these plants for oral health, there is little to no research on the populace’s knowledge, attitude, and practices on these medicinal plants. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of Oral Medicine patients from a dental college in Manila on four medicinal plants (garlic, guava, tsaang-gubat, and hierba buena) for oral health. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Oral Medicine patients (694) were invited to participate in the study through daily text messages containing brief research details. The link to the three-part online questionnaire (Google Forms) was sent via text and Facebook messages, and was answerable within 15-20 minutes. Results: Two hundred fourteen (214) Oral Medicine patients participated, with 147 (68.69%) having knowledge on using medicinal plants for oral health which they mostly knew through friends and acquaintances. Most participants had a generally positive attitude toward medicinal plants for oral health and believed they were beneficial (177, 82.71%), safe, effective, and cheaper than conventional medicine (175, 81.78%), and accessible (171, 79.91%). Only 64 (29.91%) personally used medicinal plants to address their oral health conditions. Garlic (144, 97.96%) was the most widely known and used, followed by guava (52, 35.37%), hierba buena (12, 8.16%), and tsaang-gubat (4, 2.72%). Conclusion Most participants were knowledgeable with a generally positive attitude toward the four medicinal plants for oral health but did not use these to address their oral health problems.
Garlic ; Psidium ; Mentha ; Plants, Medicinal ; Oral Health

BACKGROUND

Medicinal plants are widely used for healthcare needs, including oral health. In the Philippines, garlic, guava, tsaang-gubat, and hierba buena, although primarily recognized as plants used for the treatment of systemic diseases, are indicated as analgesics for dental pain, treatment of gingival inflammation, and oral health maintenance. Despite studies focusing on the effectiveness of these plants for oral health, there is little to no research on the populace’s knowledge, attitude, and practices on these medicinal plants.

The study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of Oral Medicine patients from a dental college in Manila on four medicinal plants (garlic, guava, tsaang-gubat, and hierba buena) for oral health.

A descriptive study design was used. Oral Medicine patients (694) were invited to participate in the study through daily text messages containing brief research details. The link to the three-part online questionnaire (Google Forms) was sent via text and Facebook messages, and was answerable within 15-20 minutes.

Two hundred fourteen (214) Oral Medicine patients participated, with 147 (68.69%) having knowledge on using medicinal plants for oral health which they mostly knew through friends and acquaintances. Most participants had a generally positive attitude toward medicinal plants for oral health and believed they were beneficial (177, 82.71%), safe, effective, and cheaper than conventional medicine (175, 81.78%), and accessible (171, 79.91%). Only 64 (29.91%) personally used medicinal plants to address their oral health conditions. Garlic (144, 97.96%) was the most widely known and used, followed by guava (52, 35.37%), hierba buena (12, 8.16%), and tsaang-gubat (4, 2.72%).

Most participants were knowledgeable with a generally positive attitude toward the four medicinal plants for oral health but did not use these to address their oral health problems.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aroma inhalation on nursing students' stress responses and anxiety before their first clinical practice. METHOD: Data were collected during the period from March 5 to March 10, 2007 at K College in a province. There were seventy eight subjects, 35 for the experimental group and 38 for the control group. Aroma oils used were lavender, peppermint and rosemary. Before and after the treatment, the severity of stress and anxiety were evaluated by VAS and a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and chi2-test with the SPSS program. RESULT: The score of subjective stress (VAS) decreased significantly after aroma inhalation (p=.000), but status anxiety was not significantly different between the two groups (p=.649). CONCLUSION: Aroma inhalation can be a useful intervention to reduce nursing student's stress before their first clinical practice.
Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy ; Inhalation* ; Lavandula ; Mentha piperita ; Nursing* ; Oils ; Surveys and Questionnaires

To provide a scientific basis for the selection of the appropriate drying method for Mentha Haplocalyx Herba (MHH), determine 2 monoterpenes, 4 phenolic acids and 5 flavonoids in MHH by GC-MS and UPLC-TQ-MS methods, and investigate the effects of the drying methods on the changes in contents of these analytes. The qualities of products obtained with different drying methods were evaluated by the multivariate statistical method of Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Results showed that the drying methods had the greatest impact on menthol, caffeic acid, and rosemary acid, which were followed by chlorogenic acid and diosmetin-7-O-glucoside. The contents in these analytes processed with hot-air-drying method were higher than those with microwave-drying and infrared-drying methods at the same temperatures. The contents in these analytes processed under low temperature (40-45 °C) were higher than those under higher temperature (60-70 °C). Above all, the contents in phenolic acids processed with microwave fixation (exposed under microwave at 100 °C for several minutes) were obviously higher than those of not being processed, showing an inhibition of some enzymes in samples after fixation. The TOPSIS evaluation showed that the variable temperature drying method of 'Hot-Air 45-60 °C' was the most suitable approach for the primary drying processing of MHH. The results could provide the scientific basis for the selection of appropriate drying method for MHH, and helpful reference for the primary drying proces of herbs containing volatile chemical components.
Desiccation ; methods ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Hydroxybenzoates ; analysis ; Mentha ; chemistry ; Monoterpenes ; analysis

Bacterial suspensions of Staph. albus, Staph. aureus, Es. coli and Ps. aeruginosa were added into the rabbit macrophage suspension and placed in the cubator of 37℃. After the incubation of 30, 60 and 120 minutes, percentage of macrophage with intracellular organisms, percentage of intracellular organisms, and number of bacterial cells in the macrophages were followed by microscopy of Giemsa stained preperations. Results of observation were summarized as follows. :1. In the Staph. albus-macrophage suspension; In the suspension of cell-bacterial ratio (CBR) being 1:1 or less, percentages of macrophages with intracellular organisms were small upto 120 minutes of incubation. In the suspension of CBR being about 1:100, percentage of macrophages with intracellular organisms was 40% after 30 mintes, and more than 90% after 120 minutes. Percentage of intracellular organisms was 60–80% after 30 minutes and more than 90% after 120 minutes. The more the number of organisms were present, or the longer the time of incubation elaspsed the number of intracellular organisms were greater. 2. In the Staph. aureus-macrophage suspension; Percentage of macrophages with intracellular organisms was about 25% after 30 minutes and about 85% after 120 minutes in the suspension of CBR being 1:10. In the suspension of CBR being 1:100, percentage of macrophages with intracellular organisms was 45% after 30 minutes and more than 90% after 60 minutes. 55% to 90% of organisms were located intracellularly after 30minutes and the percentages increased until 60 minutes. After 120 minutes the percentages of intracellular organisms, in the suspensions of CBR being 1:1 or more, decreased considerablly. Compared to the Staph. albus-cell suspension, more organisms were found intracellularly. 3. In the Es. coli-macrophage suspension, In the suapension of CBR being 1:100 percentage of macrophages with intracellular organisms was about 70% after 30 minutes and 99% after 120 minutes. After 30 minutes 45–70% of organism were located intracellularly and 70%–80% after 60 minutes and the percentages continued increase in the suspensions of CBR being 1:1 or less, but decreased in the suspensions of CBR being 1:10 or more. Compared to the Staphylococcus-cell suspensions, number of organisms observed intracellularly were generally smaller. 4. In the Ps. aeruginosa-macrophage suspension; About 60% of macrophages were found haboring organisms in the suspension of CBR being 1:100 after 30 minutes and 85% after 120 minutes. After 30minutes about 90% of organisms were observed intracellularly in the suspension of CBR 1:10 or more and after 60 minutes the percentage decreased. Compared to the Es. coli-macrophage suspension, the number of intracellular organisms were about the same or even less.
Azure Stains ; In Vitro Techniques ; Macrophages ; Mentha ; Microscopy ; Suspensions

Introduction: Folkloric claims have surrounded essential oils, including their enhancement of learning and memory through inhalational exposure. Few studies in humans have shown a benefit in cognition, albeit incremental. However, this benefit may not be entirely attributable to the essential oil aroma but may be confounded by psychological associations. We investigated rosemary, peppermint, lemon, and coffee aromas in a learning and memory model of Drosophila melanogaster to eliminate this confounder. Methods: We screened for concentrations of the four treatments that are non-stimulatory for altered locomotory behavior in the flies. At these concentrations, we determined if they were chemoneutral (i.e., neither chemoattractant nor chemorepellent) to the flies. Learning and memory of the flies exposed to these aromas were determined using an Aversive Phototaxis Suppression (APS) assay. Results: The aromas of rosemary, peppermint, and lemon that did not elicit altered mobility in the flies were from dilute essential oil solutions that ranged from 0.2 to 0.5% v/v; whereas for the aroma in coffee, it was at a higher concentration of 7.5% m/v. At these concentrations, the aromas used were found to be chemoneutral towards the flies. We observed no improvement in both learning and memory in the four aromas tested. While a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in learning was observed when flies were treated with the aromas of rosemary, peppermint, and coffee, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in memory was only observed in the peppermint aroma treatment. Conclusion This study demonstrated that in the absence of psychological association, the four aromas do not enhance learning and memory
Drosophila melanogaster ; Learning ; Memory ; Rosmarinus ; Mentha piperita ; Citrus ; Coffea

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastrointestinal peristalsis may hinder inspection of the gastrointestinal track or its treatment during endoscopy. Antispasmodic agents such as hyoscine-N-butylbromide are commonly administered before endoscopy for alleviating peristalsis, although it causes unwanted complications. Peppermint oil (PMO) has a spasmolytic effect on viscera and it has been used as an adjunctive remedy for some disorders. We evaluated the antispasmodic effect of PMO solution during gastroscopy, and we determined if there are any adverse effects. METHODS: 1.6% PMO solution was sprayed on the antrum of the examinees (n=40) during gastroscopy. Observation was performed 5 cm ahead of the pyloric ring to count the peristaltic waves for 3 minutes before and after spraying PMO. The intensity of peristalsis was graded from 0 (none) to 4 (severe), and the pulse rate of all the examinees was recorded every minute. RESULTS: The number of peristaltic contractions decreased after PMO spraying from 7.02+/-2.25 to 3.17+/-2.57 times/3 minutes (p<0.01). The peristaltic intensity also decreased from 3.15+/-1.18 to 1.34+/- \0.95 (p<0.01) with a difference of 1.80+/-1.29. On observing the examinees' pulse rates, using PMO did not induce tachycardia. No adverse effect during and after the investigation with PMO solution was reported. CONCLUSIONS: PMO showed a significant antispasmodic effect, and it reduced the number of peristaltic contractions and the intensity of gastric peristalsis. It also did not have any significant side effects. PMO solution may be used as an effective antispasmodic agent during gastroscopy.
Contracts ; Endoscopy ; Gastroscopy ; Heart Rate ; Mentha piperita ; Parasympatholytics ; Peristalsis ; Plant Oils ; Tachycardia ; Track and Field ; Viscera

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma oil inhalation using peppermint and bergamot on nausea vomiting and anorexia in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. METHOD: Study subjects were 30 patients who had experienced nausea and vomiting when they had been hospitalized in K university hospital located in D city after receiving more than two Cisplatin combination chemotherapy treatments. Among them 15 patients were in the experimental group doing aroma oil inhalation and the other 15 patients were in the control group without aroma oil inhalation. The data were collected from February 1, 2002 to May 17, 2002. The data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 10.0 program using frequency, percentage, chi-square-test, t-test, Repeated Measures ANOVA. RESULTS: 1) The degree of nausea and vomiting in the experimental group with aroma oil inhalation using peppermint and bergamot were significantly lower than that of the control group. 2) The degree of anorexia in the experimental group with aroma oil inhalation using peppermint and bergamot were significantly lower than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: aroma oil inhalation was effective for relieving patients' nausea vomiting and anorexia receiving chemotherapy. Therefore, it is proposed that aroma oil inhalation should be applied as a supportive nursing arbitration method to relieve patients' nausea vomiting and anorexia who are receiving chemotherapy.
Anorexia* ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Mentha piperita ; Nausea* ; Negotiating ; Nursing ; Vomiting*