An Investigatory Project of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Leaves as an Alternative Treatment Shampoo for Pediculosis

Vol.4, No.1

Abstract

Peppermint leaves are widely utilized for their health and medicinal benefits, primarily due to
their high content of menthol and menthone, along with other minor components such as
menthofuran, 1,8-cineole, and limonene, which have been extensively studied for their
physiological and medicinal properties. Peppermint has been found to possess several
beneficial biological processes, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial,
antiviral, and insecticidal properties. Pediculosis capitis, commonly referred to as head lice, is
a prevalent parasitic infestation among school-aged children, which is transmitted through
direct or indirect contact with infected individuals. This study aims to investigate the potential
use of peppermint leaves as an alternative treatment for pediculosis, with a specific focus on
developing a peppermint-based shampoo formulation. The primary objective of the research
is to explore the efficacy of this treatment approach.

Based on the study, the results show that both groups of respondents strongly agree on the
acceptability of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) leaves as an alternative treatment shampoo for
pediculosis in terms of ingredients, procedure, effectiveness, safety of utilization, and
treatment time. This suggests that there is a significant difference between the assessments
of the two groups in the aforementioned variables. The mean of the dermatologists is 3.376,
while that of the registered chemists is 3.112. The variance of the dermatologists is 0.086,
while that of the registered chemists is 0.073. The T-computed value is 2.018, and the T-
critical value is 2.447 with a degree of freedom of 8 as the T-computed value is less than the T-
critical value. Therefore, it rejects the null hypothesis (Ho).

For further enhancement and improvement of the study, the ensuing discussions and the
recommendations proposed are as follows: Consulting other related studies may enhance the
quality of this research; include the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of some
reagents/chemicals; use mild surfactants; and further investigation regarding of peppermint
leaves.