Chapter II: Review of Related Literature

Related Studies
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is a hybrid species of mint, a cross between
watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is
now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world. It is occasionally
found in the wild with its parent species. Although the genus Mentha comprises more
than 25 species, the one in most common use is peppermint. While Western
peppermint is derived from Mentha × piperita, Chinese peppermint, or bohe, is
derived from the fresh leaves of M. haplocalyx. M. × piperita and M. haplocalyx are
both recognized as plant sources of menthol and menthone, and are among the
oldest herbs used for both culinary and medicinal products.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Peppermint can be found over much of the world; indigenous to Europe and Asia, it
has been naturalized in North America. In the United States Mentha piperita can be
found practically everywhere, however; it is commonly found near streams and other
wet areas. Following is a map of the distribution of peppermint in the United States
and Canada.

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/johnson_nic4/Habitat%20&
%20Adaptation.htm

Peppermint, (Mentha piperita), strongly aromatic perennial herb of the mint family
(Lamiaceae). Peppermint has a strong sweetish odour and a warm pungent taste
with a cooling aftertaste. The leaves are typically used fresh as a culinary herb, and
the flowers are dried and used to flavour candy, desserts, beverages, salads, and
other foods. Its essential oil is also widely used as a flavouring. The plant is a hybrid
between watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (M. spicata) and is cultivated in
Europe, Asia, and North America.

https://www.britannica.com/plant/peppermint

Peppermint has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in

treating irritable bowel syndrome, breast feeding discomfort, heartburn, migraines,
tension headache and to reduce spasms during endoscopy and colon exams.

https://www.drugs.com/mtm/peppermint.html
Definition of Terms

1. Peppermint – is a plant in the mint family. It’s natural hybrid of spearmint and
wild mint. The leaf and oil are used as medicine.

- is used to add flavor or fragrance to foods, cosmetics, soaps,

toothpaste, mouthwashes, and other products, and it may have some medicinal
uses.

2. Potential - generally refers to a currently unrealized ability. The term is used in a

wide variety of fields, from physics to the social sciences to indicate things that are in
a state where they are able to change in ways ranging from the simple release of
energy by objects to the realization of abilities in people.

3. Peppermint oil - It’s a hybrid mint that’s a cross between spearmint and watermint.
It can be found naturally in North America and Europe. Peppermint essential oil can
be extracted from the leaves of the peppermint plant and is used for a variety of
different purposes.

4. Hair growth - The growth of human hair occurs everywhere on the body except for
the soles of the feet, the inside of the mouth, the lips, the backs of the ears, the
palms of the hands, some external genital areas, the navel, scar tissue, and, apart
from eyelashes, the eyelids. Hair is a stratified squamous keratinized epithelium
made of multi-layered flat cells whose rope-like filaments provide structure and
strength to the hair shaft. The protein called keratin makes up hair and stimulates
hair growth. Hair follows a specific growth cycle with three distinct and concurrent
phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. Each phase has specific characteristics that
determine the length of the hair.
Conceptual Framework

“Potential of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Oil for Hair growth”

Independent Dependent

Amount of Peppermint
(Mentha piperita) oil
HairGrowth
Hair Growth

This study deals with the Amount of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) oil as Independent
Variable and Hair Growth as Dependent Variable.
Hypothesis

Alternative
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) oil promotes hair growth.

Null
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) oil does not promote hair growth.