Minthostachys mollis is a medicinal plant restricted to the South American Andes from Peru to Bolivia. It is the most variable and widely distributed species of the genus Minthostachys. Its common name muña comes from Quechua. Other local names include tipo, tipollo, poleo.[1]
Minthostachys mollis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Minthostachys |
Species: | M. mollis
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Binomial name | |
Minthostachys mollis |
Medicinal uses
editIn the indigenous medicine traditions of the Andes, the plant is made into tea and used medicinally as a carminative and aphrodisiac.[citation needed]
Chemical characteristics
editThe principal components of essential oil are as follows:
- pulegone
- menthone
- menthol
- (−)-β-pinene
- (−)-α-pinene
- limonene
- isomenthone
- piperic acid
- eucalyptol
- carvone
In the flowering tops 19 compounds were identified in the essential oil, predominantly 29% neomenthol, 24% menthone, 20% menthol, and 8% piperitone.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Alkire, Ben (1994). "Tipo, Minthostachys mollis (Lamiaceae): an Ecuadorian mint". Economic Botany. 48 (1): 60–64. doi:10.1007/BF02901380. S2CID 5181013.
External links
edit- "Minthostachys mollis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.