COMMERCIAL USES OF MENTHA OIL IN INDIA

Economic importance of Mentha oil Menthol is crystalline substance with characteristics of pungent odour derived from the oil of the pepper mint plant ‘Mentha Piperita’. The true mints belong to the genus Mentha Piperita. The leaves and tops are sometimes deried and utilized for flavouring but its oil extracted is the main derivative having large commercial value

Mentha oil is derived from a plant named Mentha arvensis or common mint. Mentha arvensis is a European mint herb that is adopted by the United States. It is a long lasting, quick growing, hairy leaved herb that can even attain a height of 1.5 meters if favorable conditions are provided. ‘Mentha’, actually, is a Latin name for ‘mint’. With the help of steam distillation process, mentha oil is obtained from the fresh leaves of that plant followed by the separation of menthol from it.  Mentha oil is extremely useful in a wide variety of industries namely food industry, pharmaceutical industry and also in perfumery and flavoring industries. Also, the constituents and derivatives of mentha oil like mint and menthol are used widely. Menthol is the major derivative product of mentha oil. Majority of the oil is converted into menthol, which is so important that it is even considered as one the basic uses of mint oil. It is extracted through a complex process that involves cooling of the oil slowly, which turns the oil into crystal form and then it is centrifuged and dried to attain a yellow colored substance called menthol. This oil like substance is often required by the medicine industry and it is used in balms, cough drops, inhalers, toothpastes, mouthwashes etc. Around 40% to 50% menthol and around 50% to 60% dementholized oil is obtained from mentha oil in the production process of menthol. Dementholized oil is used in confectioneries and peppermint oil. Mentha oil is used for several purposes like in the food, perfumery, flavouring and pharmaceutical industry. It is used in manufacturing of products like lozenges, toothpaste, pain balm, cold balm etc. Strong industrial growth over two decades and increasing off-take from tobacco industry has pushed up the consumption of menthol.

Menthol mint essential oil is the main source of natural menthol. The dementholised oil (DMO) is reconstituted to produce oil similar to Mentha piperita oil. Several of the many dozens of terpenes present in the essential oil are valuable compounds that find uses in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Menthol itself is used as a flavouring agent mouth‐related produces such as fresheners, tooth pastes and chewing gums, etc. Menthol mint oil because of its antimicrobial properties enhances the shelf of edible products and grains. Menthol mint oil is an essential ingredient of the ointments, pain balms, lozenges and syrups. It is also used in cosmetic preparations, colognes, deodorants, cosmetics, etc. In India, menthol and mint oil are extensively used in betel (pan) related industries.

Uses of Menthol Crystal are as follows:

 Pharmaceuticals

 Chewing Tobacco

 Pan Masala

 Perfumery Compounds

 Toothpaste

 Mouth Washes

 Oral Preparations

 Confectionery

 Cigarettes