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Calamint (lesser)

Calamint nhỏ

Calamintha nepeta subsp. glandulosa

Cuckoo flower, Field balm, Nepitella, Calamintha officinalis

Lamiaceae · Bộ phận trên mặt đất · Aerial parts · Steam-distilled

Botanical illustration of Calamintha nepeta subsp. glandulosa; aerial parts used to extract Calamint (lesser) essential oil
Calamint (lesser) essential oil, extracted from the aerial parts of Calamintha nepeta subsp. glandulosa. Botanical illustration, Lê Mai Library.

Safety

Hepatotoxicity · Abortifacient risk

May be abortifacient. Hepatotoxic.

Broad contraindications: pregnancy, breastfeeding.

Should not be taken orally.

Maximum dermal use level 1.5 percent, based on 76.1 percent β-pulegone and a dermal limit of 1.2 percent.

Pulegone is hepatotoxic as it is metabolized to epoxides. Especially toxic by mouth.


Usage guidelines

Maximum dermal level
1.5 percent
Oral use
Not recommended
Contraindications
Pregnancy, breastfeeding

Chemistry

Volatile constituents
(1R)-(+)-β-Pulegone17.6 – 76.1 %
Menthone7.0 – 55.8 %
Piperitone oxide0 – 12.4 %
Piperitenone0 – 7.3 %
Piperitone0 – 7.4 %
(+)-Limonene0.6 – 7.2 %
Terpinen-4-ol0 – 6.8 %
(E)-Sabinene hydrate0 – 3.5 %
Isomenthone0 – 2.8 %
3-Octanol1.0 – 2.1 %
Piperitenone oxide0 – 1.1 %

Botanical source

Calamintha nepeta is a Mediterranean perennial herb. Subsp. glandulosa has three chemotypes: pulegone, piperitone oxide, piperitenone oxide. Only the pulegone chemotype is commercially available.

Subsp. nepeta has two chemotypes: pulegone and piperitone oxide.

Family Lamiaceae. This oil is sometimes confused with catnip oil (Nepeta cataria).


Notes

Limited availability. Theoretical oral maximum of 46 mg for an adult based on a 0.5 mg per kg per day limit for pulegone, but there is no significant medicinal benefit so best avoided entirely.