Abstract

THE PHYTOCHEMICAL AND CLINICAL EVALUATION OF PEPPERMINT OIL (MENTHA PIPERITA L.) WITH OLIVE OIL (OLEA EUROPAEA L.) IN THE TREATMENT OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

Dr. Ibrahim S. Abaas*, Dr. Riyadh M. Murtadha, Ali H. Majeed

ABSTRACT

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common public health problem. Different therapeutic agents including natural products had been used for its treatment. Peppermint oil has been suggested for treatment of IBS but its combination with olive oil was not studied previously. Methods: Peppermint oil have been extracted and evaluated phytochemically. Patient with IBS were divided into three groups; the first group was given pure peppermint oil capsules, the second was given mixed peppermint oil with olive oil (30%:70%) respectively, the third was given traditional therapeutic agent (Mebeverine) as control group. Results: There was a significant effect of peppermint oil with olive oil (mixed oils) on IBS symptoms compared with both peppermint oil only and control groups. The percentages of responders to control, peppermint oil only and mixed oils were reached to 72, 77 and 88% after 2 week from the end of treatment, respectively. Conclusions: This study suggests a new modality for treatment of IBS in the form of mixed peppermint oil with olive oil which gave a better result than traditional therapeutic agents.

Keywords: phytochemically, Mebeverine, peppermint oil.