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Journal of Natural & Ayurvedic Medicine Research Article 6 min read

Medicinal Uses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)

Emami M, Naseri M, Alijaniha F and Heidari M*
* Corresponding author
ISSN: 2578-4986  10.23880/jonam-16000189  Received: April 01, 2019  Published: June 19, 2019
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Keywords
Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm Herbal Medicine
Abstract

Melissa officinalis is commonly used around the world. Various studies have indicated the different properties of this herb. This article briefly describes the various properties of this plant as well as various related studies.

Introduction

Herbal medicines are used in the treatment of many diseases as conventional medicines [1]. Complementary medicine measures have less side effects than pharmacological measures [2]. Melissa officinalis or lemon balm is a family of Lamiaceae family and is native to different parts of the world, including Iran [3]. All vegetative parts of the plant are used for pharmaceutical applications. The herbaceous nature of the herb is warm and dry. The effects of this plant are due to inhibition of cholinesterase activity, acetylcholine stimulation and GABA receptor [4]. This herbal medicine has a sedative, antioxidant and antispasmodic effect and is used as a tranquilizer [5]. The use of this medicinal herb in sleep disorders has been approved by the German Commission E [6]. According to recent studies, lemon balm improves anxiety, stress and depression in rats, and in humans, it reduces anxiety and stress as well as sleep disturbances [7]. Lemon balm leaves are used to relieve spasm. In human studies, the high dose of lemon balm (600 mg / kg) is reported to increase calmness. In addition, the plant has anti-anxiety effects by reducing the concentration of corticosterone in the brain [8]. In addition to anxiety and sleep, nervous disorders such as Alzheimer's, digestive disorders such as indigestion, heart disorders such as palpitation, infections such as genital herpes, menstrual disorders and cancer [9, 10]. In addition, it has been used as a memory and cardiac enhancer, antidepressant, lipid and sugar lowering, analgesic and as a regulator of mood and cognitive function [5, 11]. It has been proven that lemon balm extract, in comparison with other herbs in the family of lamiaceae, contains a significant amount of antioxidant compounds. Today, scientists have done a lot of research on Melissa officinalis. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of Melissa officinalis hydroalcoholic extract on CaCl2-induced arrhythmias in rats. The heart rhythm and the incidence of VPB, VT and VF significantly decreased in the extract groups (with the highest activity at 200 mg / kg) compared to the control group. The results showed that lemon balm has protective effects on the heart [11]. Joukar et al. investigated the effect of marijuana on cardiac conduction and fatal ventricular arrhythmia. The results showed that PR, QTc and QRS intervals in lemon balm and amiodarone groups increased. PR and QTc were significant only in the amiodarone group and QRS was significant only in the group receiving 400 mg of lemon balm compared to the control group. During the reperfusion period, reduction of ventricular fibrillation significantly decreased in all groups (except for the 400 mg group) compared with the control group. The severity of arrhythmias also decreased, but only in the amiodarone group was significant compared to the control group. It was concluded that lemon juice extract has a mild protective effect against fatal ventricular arrhythmias due to reperfusion in rats [12]. A study by Jandaghi et al. was conducted to determine the effect of lemon balm on sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride. The results of this study showed that lemon balm powder had no significant effect on fasting, cholesterol and triglyceride parameters [13]. The study of Cases and colleagues aimed to determine the effect of lemon balm extract on the treatment of people suffering from anxiety and insomnia. The initial outcomes were a 15% reduction in anxiety symptoms and a 42% reduction in insomnia. In total, 95% responded to treatment, of which 70% had a complete recovery of anxiety symptoms and 85% had complete recovery from insomnia symptoms [14]. A study by Bhat et al. aimed to determine the effect of anticonvulsant activity of lemon balm in mice showed that the aqueous extract of Melissa officinalis may have an anticonvulsant effect in mice [15]. A study by Kennedy et al. aimed at determining the effect of valerian and lemon balm on reducing stress-induced stress markers showed that a dose of 600 milligrams of standardized herbal extract and lemon balm reduced the amount of anxiety, but increased the dose of 1800 milligrams The brief is anxious [16].

Conclusion

The use of plant properties in traditional medicine and the treatment of various diseases has long been used in Iran. Sometimes natural and herbal treatments work better than chemical drugs. Lemon balm is a perennial herb that grows around the world. People have used this plant for centuries to treat diseases.

References

  1. Alijaniha F, Naseri M, Afsharypuor S, Fallahi F, Noorbala A, et al. (2015) Heart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety. J Ethnopharmacol 164: 378-384.
  2. Seifi Z, Beikmoradi A, Oshvandi K, Poorolajal J, Araghchian M, et al. (2014) The effect of lavender essential oil on anxiety level in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a double- blinded randomized clinical trial. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research 19(6): 574-580.
  3. Sadraei H, Ghannadi A, Malekshahi K (2003) Relaxant effect of essential oil of Melissa officinalis and citral on rat ileum contractions. Fitoterapia 74(5): 445-452.
  4. Shakeri A, Sahebkar A, Javadi B (2016) Melissa officinalis L.–A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. J ethnopharmacol 188: 204-228.
  5. Miladi Gorgi H, Vafaee AA, Rashidi Poor A, Taherian AA, Jarrahi M, et al. (2005) The Role of Opioid Receptors on Anxiolytic Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Melissa officinalis in Mice. Razi Journal of Medical Sciences 12(47): 145-153.
  6. Joukar S, Asadipour H, Sheibani M, Najafipour H, Dabiri S (2016) The effects of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) pretreatment on the resistance of the heart to myocardial injury. Pharm Biol 54(6): 1005- 1013.
  7. Haybar H, Javid AZ, Haghighizadeh MH, Valizadeh E, Mohaghegh SM, et al. (2018) The effects of Melissa officinalis supplementation on depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorder in patients with chronic stable angina. Clin nutr ESPEN 26: 47-52.
  8. Yoo DY, Choi JH, Kim W, Yoo KY, Lee CH, et al. (2011) Effects of Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) extract on neurogenesis associated with serum corticosterone and GABA in the mouse dentate gyrus. Neurochemical Res 36(2): 250-257.
  9. Kasuli EG (2011) Are alternative supplements effective treatment for diabetes mellitus? Nutrition in Clinical Practice 26(3): 352-355.
  10. Kalvandi R, Alimohammadi S, Pashmakian Z, Rajabi M (2014) The effects of medicinal plants of Melissa officinalis and salvia officinalis on primary dysmenorrhea. Avicenna Journal of Clinical Medicine 21(2): 105-111.
  11. Akhondali Z, Dianat M, Radan M (2015) Negative Chronotropic and Antidysrhythmic Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on CaCl2-Induced Arrhythmias in Rats. Electronic physician 7(1): 971-976.
  12. Joukar S, Zarisfi Z, Sepehri G, Bashiri A (2014) Efficacy of Melissa officinalis in suppressing ventricular arrhythmias following ischemia- reperfusion of the heart: a comparison with amiodarone. Medical principles and practice 23(4): 340-345.
  13. Jandaghi P, Noroozi N, Zavoshy R, Naseri M, Alipour M (2014) The effect of lemon balm supplementation on blood glucose and lipid profile in patients with hyperlipidemia. Nutrition And Food Sciences Research 1(Suppl 1): 145-146.
  14. Cases J, Ibarra A, Feuillere N, Roller M, Sukkar SG (2011) Pilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in the treatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to- moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbances. Mediterranean journal of nutrition and metabolism 4(3): 211-218.
  15. Bhat JU, Nizami Q, Aslam M, Asiaf A, Ahmad ST, et al. (2012) Antiepileptic Activity Of The Whole Plant Extractof Melissa officinalis In Swiss Albino Mice. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 3(3): 886-889.
  16. Kennedy DO, Little W, Haskell CF, Scholey AB (2006) Anxiolytic effects of a combination of Melissa officinalis and Valeriana officinalis during laboratory induced stress. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives 20(2): 96-102.
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@article{emami2019,
  title   = {Medicinal Uses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)},
  author  = {Emami M, Naseri M, Alijaniha F and Heidari M},
  journal = {Journal of Natural & Ayurvedic Medicine},
  year    = {2019},
  volume  = {3},
  number  = {2},
  doi     = {10.23880/jonam-16000189}
}
Emami M, Naseri M, Alijaniha F and Heidari M (2019). Medicinal Uses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm). Journal of Natural & Ayurvedic Medicine, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.23880/jonam-16000189
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Medicinal Uses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
AU  - Emami M, Naseri M, Alijaniha F and Heidari M
JO  - Journal of Natural & Ayurvedic Medicine
PY  - 2019
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
DO  - 10.23880/jonam-16000189
ER  -