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People have been using plants in treating various diseases and obtaining successful results since old ages. Most of these plants have become natural medicines as a result of coincidences or curious practices. Different treatments by using different plants have been carried out and proven to be healing and plants have become significant and popular among people in a short period. Medicinal plants still play an important role in the Kurdish community. Iraq is home to a rich variety of plant species, including many with medicinal properties. However, only a limited number of fragmented ethnobotanical investigations focusing on the Kurdistan region have been documented in scientific publications. Therefore, exploring Kurdish ethnobotanical traditions is essential for gaining insight into local uses of medicinal plants and how these practices relate to those in neighboring regions. Among several plants, Mentha piperita L. (M. piperita, Peppermint) is one of the herbs most widely used in Iraq, with a long history of safe use in medicinal preparations. M. piperita is a medicinal plant that has received more attention from both food and pharmaceutical industries because of its health benefits for human society. M. piperita leaf is used as a remedy for common cold, inflammation of the mouth, pharynx, liver, as well as disorders in the gastrointestinal tract such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, flatulence and dyspepsia. Peppermint oil has the most uses, and use data on the oil are considered relevant to the leaf extract formulations as well. This herbal preparation is used in cosmeceuticals, personal hygiene products, foods, and pharmaceutical products for both its flavoring and fragrance properties. It also has a variety of therapeutic properties and is used in aromatherapy, bath preparations, mouthwashes, toothpastes, and topical preparations. The aim of this review is to show that several studies have demonstrated the presence of many different chemical compounds in M. piperita and their pharmacological effects in Iraq. Furthermore, we may say that M. piperita is a promising plant that may offer low-cost alternative strategy for the use in medicine and in food industry in Iraq.
