Mentha arvensis Linn. commonly called Podina, is a traditional herb of the
family Lamiaceae distributed all over the world. First grown in Europe in ancient
times, cultivation spread to Japan in the nineteenth century, then to China and other
Asian countries ethnomedical records. Preliminary studies from the animal model have
provided valuable scientific evidence for its use and the novel bioactive compounds.
The chapter summarizes the selected scientific evidence on the pharmacological
properties and phytochemistry of Mentha arvensis (L.) over the past 47 years from
1972 to 2020 available on several Non-English journals and English/Non-English,
while identifying potential areas of further development of this herb as an economic
adjunct. The evidence suggests that the extracts and compounds from Mentha arvensis
(L.) possess antimicrobial action against several gram-positive and gram-negative
bacteria, antioxidant, antifertility, TNF-alpha inhibition, radioprotective, anti-ulcer,
neuroleptic, nephroprotective, sedative-hypnotic, anticancer, antiemetic, analgesic,
anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and other cardiovascular protective activities. The
various scientific evidence suggests that there is strong pharmacological potential in
developing Mentha arvensis (L.) as a drug to be used in the treatment of various
disorders from antimicrobial to anticancer therapy.
Keywords: Bioactive compounds, Ethnopharmacology, Mentha Arvensis, Novel
Herbal Drugs, Podina, Phytochemistry.
