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Mentha alaica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Mentha
Species:	M. alaica
Binomial name
Mentha alaica Boriss.

Mentha alaica is a mint species within the genus Mentha native to Central Asia.

Description

A perennial species, Mentha alaica grows to a height of 1 metre (3 ft 3 in), and propagates via creeping rhizomes. It produces large oblong-lanceate leaves up to 10 centimetres (4 in) long.

Taxonomy

The species was recorded by Russian botanist Antonina Borissova in 1954.

While it is accepted as a distinct species by authorities such as Plants of the World Online, some authors have treated M. alaica as simply a synonym of M. longifolia.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to the Pamir-Alay mountain range within Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Uses

Mentha alaica has been used in various formulations in Traditional Chinese Medicine. As an ingredient within this tradition, it is believed to "dispel pathogenic heat and wind." Under the common name Hortelã, M. alaica was reported used as an herbal medicine in Brazil to treat nausea, as well as digestive and kidney problems.

Notes

1. ^ Borissova 1977, p. 442.
2. Borissova 1977, p. 430.
3. "Mentha alaica Boriss., Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 16: 283 (1954)". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
4. "Mentha alaica Boriss". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
5. Quattrocchi 2016, p. 2472.
6. Wiart 2020, p. 516.
7. "Mentha alaica". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
8. Lin et al. 2017, p. 234.
9. Chang Chen 2017, p. 63.
10. Lima et al. 2019, p. 7.

References

• Chang Chen, J. B. (2017-06-28). A hexa-herbal Chinese formula for treatment of atopic dermatitis: phytochemical analysis and selected anti-inflammatory activities (Doctoral). UCL (University College London). Retrieved 2021-03-22.
• Borissova, A. G. (1977). "Genus 1301. Mentha L.". Flora of the U.S.S.R. Vol. 21. B.K. Shishkin (ed.), N Landau (trans.). Jerusalem: Keterpress Enterprises. pp. 427–450. ISBN 0-7065-1573-0.
• Lima, Carolina Miranda de Sousa; Fujishima, Mayara Amoras Teles; Santos, Bráulio Érison França dos; de Paula Lima, Bruno; Mastroianni, Patrícia Carvalho; Sousa, Francisco Fábio Oliveira de; Silva, Jocivânia Oliveira da (2019). "Phytopharmacovigilance in the Elderly: Highlights from the Brazilian Amazon". Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019. Mohammed S. Ali-Shtayeh (ed.): 1–12. doi:10.1155/2019/9391802. ISSN 1741-427X. PMC 6378030. PMID 30854018. ProQuest 2182503095. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
• Lin, Yi-Chun; Chang, Tung-Ti; Chen, Husan-Ju; Wang, Chung-Hsing; Sun, Mao-Feng; Yen, Hung-Rong (2017-06-09). "Characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine usage in children with precocious puberty: A nationwide population-based study". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 205: 231–239. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.05.006. ISSN 0378-8741. PMID 28499829. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
• Quattrocchi, Umberto (2016-04-19). CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology (5 Volume Set). CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4822-5064-0.
• Wiart, Christophe (2020-10-20). Medicinal Plants in Asia and Pacific for Parasitic Infections: Botany, Ethnopharmacology, Molecular Basis, and Future Prospect. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-816812-7.

• Mentha
• Flora of Tajikistan
• Flora of Kyrgyzstan
• Plants described in 1954