Pharmacologic Activities of Yerba Buena (Mentha x villosa Huds Fam. Lamiaceae): An Overview

Objectives. The aim of this study is to describe the pharmacologic activities of Yerba buena (Mentha x villosa Huds).

Methods. Data were collected if available from online databases from 1950 to 2023 as well as the Philippine National Library, and unpublished clinical trials.

Results. The initial search yielded thirty-seven studies from the different databases. After further screening, eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. In vitro/in vivo studies of yerba buena showed antihypertensive, antibacterial, anthelmintic, antitumor, antiviral, and analgesic activities. Safety studies conducted showed that yerba buena possesses antimutagenic property. Clinical trial of yerba buena showed that oral administration of yerba buena and Paracetamol produced comparable analgesic efficacy.

Conclusion. The medical benefits of yerba buena have been well-documented and thoroughly researched. Yerba Buena was reported to have analgesic, antibacterial, anthelmintic, anticancer, antiviral, and antihypertensive properties. Among all the different activities, its analgesic activity was the only reported pharmacologic indication to have been clinically tested.