Pennyroyal

Alex Strube

Introduction

Pennyroyal is traditionally used to induce sweating in order to treat colds and to induce menstruation and to induce abortion. These effects are probably caused by the patient' body trying to rid itself of the pennyroyal which is poisonous. Pennyroyal contains a chemical that causes liver damage.

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
By Valter Jacinto | Portugal
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What it is

European Pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium, and American Pennyroyal, Hedeoma pulegioides are flowering members of the mint family. European Pennyroyal is a perennial herb found in low costal regions, growing best in moist soils with partial shade; it's more common to the Mediterranean than the north. American Pennyroyal is an annual plant that grows in dry, sandy soils; it's more common in the Eastern part of the U.S. [5] The European version is considered Endangered in Britian[10] and the American version is listed as a plant of Special Concern (meaning it's endangered) in Rhode Island by the USDA[11]

What it does

Pennyroyal is classified as a diaphoretic (causes sweating) and as a emmenagogue (induces menstruation). It has traditionally been used to treat headaches and colds. It is eaten or drunk as a tea made from leaves or the essential oil distilled from the leaves and flowers.[5]It has been used to induce abortion.[5] It is sometimes used as an to get rid of insects.[6] It is comtimes used in pet shampoos as an anti -flea agent, but this is considered dangerous because of the toxic effect it can have on the pet.[4] The essential oil of pennyroyal is used in aromatherapy. [7]

None of the traditional uses are recommended by medical authorities. It's effectiveness for the uses it's traditionally used for have not been scientifically proven and pennyroyal is highly toxic to the liver.[1] [2] [8] Deaths have been documented due to drinking mint tea with oil of pennyroyal in it.3 When a person dies of pennyroyal poisoning, a minty smell can be detected on their breath.[2]

What's in it

It is not proven which ingredients are responsible pennyroyal's supposed medical uses, as none of those uses have been proven. The main chemical found in the leaves and flowers is pulegone,[5] which is the agent that causes pennyroyal's toxicity. Pulegone (IUPAC name:5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylidenecyclohexan-1-one)[9], is metabolized to methofuran when ingested. In smaller amounts Methofuran causes neurological effects such as dizziness, seizures, and unconsciousness. In higher amounts it causes liver failure.[1] [8]

Pulegone

Isolation and Synthesis of Pulegone

Pulegone is a monoterpene ketone[12] that can be identified by its characteristic H-NMR spectrum:H-NMR: d 1.02 (3H, CH3), 1.79 and 1.99 (6H), C=C(CH3)2, and C-NMR spectrum:22.1, 22.5, 23.4 (3xq, 3CH3), 28.9, 33.2, 51.2 (3xt, 3CH2; DEPT-135, all three ‘down’ peaks), 31.9 (d, CH), 132.2, 142.3 (2xs C=C), 204.5 (s, C=O)].[13] It can be isolated by fractional distillation.[13]

An account of its synthesis could not be found as of this writing.

Pulegone

Pulegone Ball and Stick Structure

Bibliography

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