American Botanical Council expands HerbMedPro database with Aromatics’ “adopted” peppermint

The American Botanical Council (ABC) has expanded its HerbMedPro database with the adoption of peppermint by Aromatics. The information system offers diverse research data on the uses and health effects of over 275 herbs, spices, and medicinal plants and fungi. The move was done via the non-profit’s Adopt-an-Herb botanical research and education program.

The HerbMedPro encourages organizations and people to adopt a specific herb for inclusion and maintenance of the database, available to ABC members, while its sister site, HerbMed, is freely available to the public. 

“The adoption of peppermint in ABC’s HerbMedPro database directly aligns with our mission — to be the most highly respected and sought-after supplier of peppermint and spearmint leaves in the world,” says Aromatics’ owner and president, Kurt Amoth. “Our team at Aromatics invests a tremendous amount of time and effort each season to grow, process, and ship the highest quality mint leaves to our customers around the globe.”

“We are thankful to have an industry advocate such as ABC to provide non-biased findings from studies performed on botanicals such as peppermint. Whether through press releases, magazine articles, or peer-reviewed studies, we are appreciative that ABC is recognized as a highly respected conduit of quality botanical information available to the public.”

Peppermint for health and wellness

Peppermint is a hybrid of Mentha spicata (spearmint) and M. aquatica (watermint) and is renowned for its fragrance and effects. It is used internally and externally for gastrointestinal and neurological conditions like indigestion or tension headaches. Meanwhile, research on antispasmodics and antidiarrheals is ongoing.

The herb is used in teas, flavorings, and confections and is a perennial aromatic in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Its leaves and stems contain oils, which release the flavor and smell. One of the chemicals is menthol, which imparts a cooling sensation. 

Peppermint grows across Europe and North America in moist environments and is believed to originate in the Mediterranean. Ancient Egyptians have also used the plant.

ABC founder and executive director Mark Blumenthal comments: “Peppermint’s well-established medicinal properties — especially to aid digestion — is the basis for the popularity of after-dinner mints, which appear to be a candy but in reality are a traditional digestive remedy.” 

“Aromatics’ peppermint adoption has made it possible for ABC to stay current with almost 800 scientific and clinical research studies on peppermint and peppermint oil on the peppermint record in HerbMedPro. The abstracts and summaries of these research papers are optimally organized for enhanced access for researchers, students, educators, and others.”

Nutrition Insight previously met with Andrea Primavera, president of the Italian Federation of Medicinal Plant Producers, who said that Europe’s medicinal and aromatic plant ingredients sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by an aging population and rising consumer demand for organic and clean label nutritional products.

Recent Innova Market Insights data shows that Europe and North America lead global botanical and herbal supplement NPD, accounting for 78% of launches. Of all NPD, 37% featured brain-mood health claims. Ashwagandha remains the most popular herb, though chaga mushroom is growing rapidly. Additionally, there is a notable rise in botanical and herbal gummy supplements.