Melissa
officinalis. Lemon
balm, Sweet
balm, Bee balm Family: Labiatae
Used very widely as an ingredient of herbal teas. PART USED: Leaves TASTE and ODOR: Lemony ACTIONS GROUP: Herbs for the mind and emotions- Cephalics
1. Sedative nervine.[1,2,3,5]
Sedative, benefiting the Heart.[5]
2. Diaphoretic.[1] Febrifuge.[1,2,3]
3. Carminative.[1,2,3] Relieving spasm.[5]
4. Cordial.
5. Thymoleptic.
6. Antispasmodic.[1]
7. Anti-Viral. SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Dyspepsia associated with anxiety or depressive
states.[1] Nervous stomach disorders.[5] COMBINATIONS
INDICATIONS- Used very widely as an ingredient of herbal teas.
1. Nervous/Emotional- Nervous tachycardia. Digestive disorders such as
indigestion especially if associated with anxiety or depression. Anxiety,[1]
insomnia[5] nightmares. To improve concentration,
memory and understanding. Nervous dyspepsia.[5]
2. Depression, "it causeth the Heart and mind to become merry and driveth
away all troublesome cares and thoughts." Depressive illness.[1]
3. Flatulent[5] dyspepsia.[1]
Relieves flatulence less strongly than Chamomile,
or Peppermint.[5]
3. Uterine disorders generally including delayed or painful periods.
4. Fevers generally.
5. To promote longevity. External- A cream containing extracts of Lemon Balm is used for the
treatment of cutaneous lesions of Herpes Simplex virus.[3] PREPARATIONS:
3X /day
Dried leaves 2-4 g.[1] Infusion
1:20,[1,2] two teaspoons to a cup of
water, not boiled. Leave to stand, covered, for ten to fifteen minutes, then sip
while hot, sweetening with honey if desired.[5]
Fluid extract 1:1 in 45% alcohol[4]
2-4 ml.[1,2] 2-6 ml.[3]
Tincture 1:5 in 45% 2-6 ml.[1,2]
Spirit of Melissa 75% alcohol.[3] Used
for external used, for neuralgia, headaches, migrain, and on the temples at night
in cases of sleeplessness.[5] DESCRIPTION: A perennial herb up to 60 cm tall, widely cultivated. Small
whitish flowers in spring. Leaves opposite, stalked, about 3-4 cm long, ovate,
wrinkled with a coarsely serrate margin and a rounded base. References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia
1983 Published by the British Herbal Medicine Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[3] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations R.C.
Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in
Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company
Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound
by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.
[4] The Pharmaceutical Plant Company Pty Ltd ppcherbs.com.au
[5] Weiss,Rudolf Fritz Herbal Medicine Translated from the
Sixth German Edition of Lehrbuch der Phytotherapie by A. R. Meuss. (1988) ISBN
0-906584-19-1 British Library Calaloguing in Publication Data Beaconsfield publishers
Ltd, Beaconfield, England. Images
1. giardinaggioweb.net
2. coste.flora-electronica.com
3. inspiredherbals.com
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the
use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Constituents
Volatile oil 0.1-0.2% containing citral a and b, with caryophyllene oxide and
terpenes- such as linalool, citronellal, b-caryophllene,
nerol, geraniol.[2] Traces of eugenol
acetate, b-ocimene, copaene and a-cubebene.[1]
Flavonoids in low concentrations: luteolin-7-glucoside and rhamnaxin.[3]
Polyphenolics, including protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid and
tannins.[3]
Triterpenic acids and pomolic acids.
Hot water extacts have anti-viral properties, mainly due to the rosamarinic acid
and other polypholics.[5]
A cream containing extracts of Balm is used for the treatment of cutaneous lesions
of Herpes simplex virus, the anti-viral activity having been confirmed in vitro
and by trial.[6]
Aqueous extracts inhibit tumor cells dividing.[7]
"Spirit of Melissa" is used in the treament of psychiatric disorders.
Balm has anti-hormonal effects - mainly anti-thyroid. Freeze dried aqeous extract
inhibit many of the effects of exogenous and endogenous thyroid stimulating hormone
(TSH) on bovine thyroid gland by interfering with the binding of TSH to plasma
membranes.[8] It also inhibits the receptor
binding and biological activity of immunoglobulins in the blood of patients with
Graves disease, a condition which results in hyperthryoidism.[9] References
[1] Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients used in Food drugs and Cosmetics,
Albert Y. Leung Pub. John Wiley & Sons Inc. (1980) NY
[2] Enjalbert, F. et al. (1983) Fitoterapia 2, 59
[3] Thieme, H. and Kitze, C. (1973) Pharmazie 28 (1), 69
[4] Brieskorn, C. H. and Krause, W. (1974) Arch. Pharm 307 (8),
603
[5] Kucera, L. S. and Hermann, E. C., Jnr. (1967) Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 124,
865 and 864
[6] Wolbling, R. H. and Milbradt, R. (1984) Therapiewoche 34
(9), 1193
[7] Ozarowski, A. (1982) Wiad. Ziel. 4, 7
[8] Auf'mkolk, M. et al. (1984) Endrocrinology 115 (2), 527
[9] Auf'mkolk, M. Endocrinology 116 (5), 1687
Research
The volatile oils contained in the spirits of Melissa act in the fist instance
on the limbic part of the brain. This governs the autonomic functions and protects
the cerebrum, the main part of the brain, from excessively powerful stimuli from
the periphery of the body.[1] References
[1] Weiss,Rudolf Fritz Herbal Medicine Translated from the Sixth
German Edition of Lehrbuch der Phytotherapie by A. R. Meuss. (1988) ISBN 0-906584-19-1
British Library Calaloguing in Publication Data Beaconsfield publishers Ltd, Beaconfield,
England.
Anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of Melissa officinalis (lemon
balm) extract in rats: Influence of administration and gender
Adefunmilayo E. Taiwo, Franco B. Leite, Greice M. Lucena, Marilia Barros, Dâmaris
Silveira, Mônica V. Silva, and Vania M. Ferreira Abstract
To analyse the behavioral effects of Melissa officinalis extract in rats following
acute or subacute treatment.
Materials and Methods:
The behavioral effects of an acute or subacute (10-day course) orally administered
M. officinalis (MO; 0, 30, 100 or 300 mg/kg) ethanol extract were evaluated in
male and female Wistar rats in elevated plus-maze (EPM), forced swimming (FS)
and open field (OF) tests. The effects of diazepam (DZP; 1 mg/kg) and fluoxetine
(FXT; 10 mg/kg) were also assessed.
Results:
In the EPM test, the percentage of open arm entries and open arm times of both
males and females given the subacute M. officinalis ethanol extract were significantly
higher than those of the vehicle-treated animals but were at levels similar to
those observed in the DZP group, regardless of the treatment length. In the FS
test, immobility duration was significantly lower in both males and females treated
with the plant extract when compared to vehicle-treated counterparts. A 10-day
treatment with FXT induced the same antidepressant response, regardless of gender,
and was more effective than the M. officinalis extract. Male and female rats demonstrated
distinct gender profiles, and treatment × gender interactions were observed.
Locomotion in the EPM and OF tests was not significantly altered by treatments.
Conclusion:
The potential psychoactive properties of M. officinalis may provide a unique pharmacological
alternative for certain psychiatric disorders; however, the efficacy appears to
be dependent on both gender and administration length.
Indian J Pharmacol. 2012 Mar-Apr; 44(2): 189–192. doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.93846
PMCID: PMC3326910 ncbi.nlm.nih.govModulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration
of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm).
Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, Wesnes KA. Abstract
Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) is a traditional herbal medicine, which enjoys
contemporary usage as a mild sedative, spasmolytic and antibacterial agent.
It has been suggested, in light of in vitro cholinergic binding properties,
that Melissa extracts may effectively ameliorate the cognitive deficits associated
with Alzheimer's disease. To date, no study has investigated the effects on
cognition and mood of administration of Melissa to healthy humans. The present
randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, balanced-crossover study investigated
the acute effects on cognition and mood of a standardised extract of M. officinalis.
Twenty healthy, young participants received single doses of 300, 600 and 900
mg of M. officinalis (Pharmaton) or a matching placebo at 7-day intervals. Cognitive
performance was assessed using the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) computerised
test battery and two serial subtraction tasks immediately prior to dosing and
at 1, 2.5, 4 and 6 h thereafter. In vitro IC(50) concentrations for the displacement
of [3H]-(N)-nicotine and [3H]-(N)-scopolamine from nicotinic and muscarinic
receptors in human occipital cortex tissue were also calculated. Results, utilising
the cognitive factors previously derived from the CDR battery, included a sustained
improvement in Accuracy of Attention following 600 mg of Melissa and time- and
dose-specific reductions in both Secondary Memory and Working Memory factors.
Self-rated "calmness," as assessed by Bond-Lader mood scales, was
elevated at the earliest time points by the lowest dose, whilst "alertness"
was significantly reduced at all time points following the highest dose. Both
nicotinic and muscarinic binding were found to be low in comparison to the levels
found in previous studies.
PMID: 12062586 Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2002 Jul;72(4):953-64. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The effects of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) pretreatment on the
resistance of the heart to myocardial injury.
Joukar S, Asadipour H1, Sheibani M, Najafipour H, Dabiri S. Abstract
CONTEXT:
The antihyperlipidemic, antiarrhythmic, neuroprotective and hepatoprotective
effects of Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) have been reported. However, no
study has examined its effects on the resistance of the heart to stressful conditions.
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of
M. officinalis aerial parts on Wistar rat heart with/without cardiac injury.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Animals were grouped as control, isoproterenol (ISO), M. officinalis without
(M50, M100, and M200) and with isoproterenol (M50+ISO, M100+ISO, and M200+ISO).
The aqueous extract of M. officinalis was orally administered at dosages of
50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/d, respectively, for 7 consecutive days. On the 6th and
7th day, ISO, M50+ISO, M100+ISO, and M200+ISO groups received 85 mg/kg of isoproterenol
for myocardial injury induction. On day 8, hemodynamic parameters were recorded
and samplings were done.
RESULTS:
The extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the heart rate (264±5,
259±5 and 281±3 versus 377±13 in control group, p<0.01).
Blood pressure was significantly decreased in M50+ISO (75±5) versus M50
(110±6) and M100+ISO (72±6) versus M100 (105±5 mmHg, p<0.01).
The malondialdehyde levels of the injured hearts were lower in M50+ISO and M100+ISO
groups than in the ISO group (p<0.05). Serum cardiac troponin I was higher
in the M200+ISO group (5.1±1.7) than in the ISO group (2.7±0.7ng/ml,
p<0.05).
CONCLUSION:
The lower dose of extract, by improving the balance of the redox system and
by reducing the heart rate, may increase the heart resistance to injury. However,
the higher doses of extract may intensify the injury of ischemic heart.
PMID: 26457827 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1091845 Pharm Biol. 2016;54(6):1005-13.
doi: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1091845. Epub 2015 Oct 12. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Inhibitory activity of Melissa officinalis L. extract on Herpes simplex
virus type 2 replication.
Mazzanti G, Battinelli L, Pompeo C, Serrilli AM, Rossi R, Sauzullo I, Mengoni
F, Vullo V. Abstract
Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) (lemon balm) is used in folk medicine for
nervous complaints, lower abdominal disorders and, more recently, for treating
Herpes simplex lesions. In this work the antiviral activity of a hydroalcoholic
extract of lemon balm leaves against the Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
was assessed by the cytopathic effect inhibition assay on Vero cells (ATCC CCL-81),
in comparison with acyclovir. The cytotoxicity of the extract on Vero cells
was previously tested by evaluating the cellular death and was confirmed by
the Trypan blue test. Lemon balm showed to reduce the cytopathic effect of HSV-2
on Vero cells, in the range of non-toxic concentrations of 0.025-1 mg mL(-1)
(with reference to the starting crude herbal material). The maximum inhibiting
effect (60%) was obtained with 0.5 mg mL(-1). The viral binding assay showed
that the extract does not prevent the entry of HSV-2 in the cells, thus suggesting
a mechanism of action subsequent to the penetration of the virus in the cell.
The extract was also chemically characterised by NMR and HPLC analysis; it showed
to contain cinnamic acid-like compounds, mainly rosmarinic acid (4.1% w/w).
Our experiments support the use of lemon balm for treating Herpes simplex lesions
and encourage clinical trials on this medicinal plant.
PMID: 19023806 DOI: 10.1080/14786410802075939 Nat Prod Res. 2008;22(16):1433-40.
doi: 10.1080/14786410802075939. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Flavonoids from lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L., Lamiaceae).
Patora J, Klimek B. Abstract
Six flavonoids have been isolated from the leaves of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis
L., Lamiaceae). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral data
(UV, 1R, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and FAB MS) as luteolin, luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside,
apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside,
luteolin 3'-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside and luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-3'-Obeta-D-glucuronopyranoside.
The last three glycosides have been found in lemon balm for the first time and
luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-3'-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside is a new
compound found in plants.
PMID: 12365606 Acta Pol Pharm. 2002 Mar-Apr;59(2):139-43. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
