Peppermint oil Chemical Properties

Boiling point:

215 °C(lit.)

Density 

0.9 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)

FEMA 

2848 | PEPPERMINT OIL

refractive index 

n20/D 1.461(lit.)

Flash point:

196 °F

storage temp. 

2-8°C

form 

Liquid

color 

Pale yellow

Odor

Mint odour

optical activity

[α]20/D 29°, neat

Odor Type

minty

Water Solubility 

Insoluble in water

Stability:

Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.

CAS DataBase Reference

8006-90-4

EPA Substance Registry System

Oils, peppermint (8006-90-4)

Safety Information

Safety Statements 

23-24/25

RIDADR 

UN 1993 / PGIII

WGK Germany 

2

RTECS 

SC6125000

F 

8

Hazardous Substances Data

8006-90-4(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 orl-rat: 2426 mg/kg JPMSAE 54,1071,65

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:Peppermint oil
• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich

Peppermint oil Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

Peppermint oil is produced by steam distillation of the flowering herb Mentha x piperita L. It is an almost colorless to pale greenish-yellow liquid with a characteristic peppermint odor.
US oils: d²⁰₂₀ 0.899–0.911; n²⁰_D 1.4590–1.4650; α²⁰_D ?32 ° to ?18 °; solubility: 1 vol in max. 3 vol of 70% ethanol at 20℃.
Oils of other origin, for example, from China and India: d²⁰₂₀ 0.898–0.918; n²⁰_D 1.4590–1.4650; α²⁰_D ?30 ° to ?14 °; solubility: 1 vol in max. 5 vol of 70% ethanol at 20℃.
As in cornmint oil, the main component of peppermint oil is (?)-menthol (36–46%)/(32–49%); it also contains (?)-menthone (15–25%)/(13–28%) and (?)-menthyl acetate (3–6.5%)/(2–8%). However, peppermint oil, unlike cornmint oil, has a higher content of (+)-menthofuran (1.5–6%)/(1–8%); data for the US oils and oils of other origin, for example, China, India.

Chemical Properties

The oil is obtained by steam distillation of the fresh, overground parts of the flowering plant with yields ranging from 0.3 to 0.7%, depending on the origin of the plant. The oil may be rectified by distillation, but is neither partially nor wholly dementholized. It has a characteristic strong penetrating odor of peppermint and a pungent taste, followed by a sensation of coldness when air is drawn into the mouth.

Chemical Properties

Liquid with distinctive peppermint odour

Physical properties

Peppermint oil is a pale-yellow liquid. The physical–chemical characteristics of the oil vary depending on the source. For details on Italian, French and American peppermint oil, refer to Burdock (1997).

Uses

fluoroquinolone antibiotic

Uses

peppermint oil is credited with refreshing, cooling, bactericidal, and anti-irritant properties. It is also used as a fragrance. Peppermint oil can produce allergic reactions such as hay fever, skin rashes, and irritation, especially if a dressing is applied over the oil. extracted from the leaves of the peppermint plant, menthol accounts for more than 50 percent of its content.

Definition

Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Mentha piperita, Labiatae.

Essential oil composition

The main constituents are identical in all oil varieties, but the relative ratios vary widely. Constituents include alpha- and beta-pinene, limonene, cineol, ethyl amylcarbinol, menthone, isomenthone menthofuran, menthol, neomenthol, isomenthol menthyl acetate and piperitone. The oil contains: menthone: 15 to 32%; esters (menthyl acetate) 3 to 10%; and menthol: 30.0 to 55.0%. More than 100 chemicals have been detected in the peppermint oil and their relative concentration varies between cultivars and geographic location.

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. An allergen. Mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes

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