Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD, MBA(C), Column Editor Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.)

An evidence-based systematic review including written and statistical analysis of scientific literature, expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, adverse effects, toxicology, and dosing.

[1]  A. Jäger,et al.  Screening of traditionally used Lebanese herbs for neurological activities. , 2005, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[2]  D. Ivanova,et al.  Polyphenols and antioxidant capacity of Bulgarian medicinal plants. , 2005, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[3]  A. Allahverdiyev,et al.  Antiviral activity of the volatile oils of Melissa officinalis L. against Herpes simplex virus type-2. , 2004, Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology.

[4]  R. Gazola,et al.  Lippia alba, Melissa officinalis and Cymbopogon citratus: effects of the aqueous extracts on the isolated hearts of rats. , 2004, Pharmacological research.

[5]  B. Marongiu,et al.  Antioxidant activity of supercritical extract of Melissa officinalis subsp. officinalis and Melissa officinalis subsp. inodora , 2004, Phytotherapy research : PTR.

[6]  W. Dimpfel,et al.  Effects of lozenge containing lavender oil, extracts from hops, lemon balm and oat on electrical brain activity of volunteers. , 2004, European journal of medical research.

[7]  R. Mandrell,et al.  Antibacterial activities of plant essential oils and their components against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica in apple juice. , 2004, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[8]  D. Kennedy,et al.  Attenuation of Laboratory-Induced Stress in Humans After Acute Administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) , 2004, Psychosomatic medicine.

[9]  P. Alves,et al.  Melissa officinalis L. essential oil: antitumoral and antioxidant activities , 2004, The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology.

[10]  N. Mimica-Dukić,et al.  Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) essential oil. , 2004, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[11]  G. Holtmann,et al.  Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia with a Herbal Preparation , 2004, Digestion.

[12]  K. Shetty,et al.  Inhibitory effects of rosmarinic acid extracts on porcine pancreatic amylase in vitro. , 2004, Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition.

[13]  E. Anuszewska,et al.  The effect of the Melissa officinalis extract on immune response in mice. , 2003, Acta poloniae pharmaceutica.

[14]  A. Pinchera,et al.  In vitro assay of thyroid disruptors affecting TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity , 2003, Journal of endocrinological investigation.

[15]  J. Patora,et al.  Variability in the content and composition of essential oil from lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) cultivated in Poland. , 2003, Acta poloniae pharmaceutica.

[16]  E. Perry,et al.  Modulation of Mood and Cognitive Performance Following Acute Administration of Single Doses of Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) with Human CNS Nicotinic and Muscarinic Receptor-Binding Properties , 2003, Neuropsychopharmacology.

[17]  A. Ghannadi,et al.  Relaxant effect of essential oil of Melissa officinalis and citral on rat ileum contractions. , 2003, Fitoterapia.

[18]  Mohammad Reza Mohammadi,et al.  Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial , 2003, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[19]  G. Blandino,et al.  Antibacterial activity of medicinal plant extracts against periodontopathic bacteria , 2003, Phytotherapy research : PTR.

[20]  R. Blomhoff,et al.  Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. , 2003, The Journal of nutrition.

[21]  M. Sousa,et al.  Activity of essential oils from Mediterranean Lamiaceae species against food spoilage yeasts. , 2003, Journal of food protection.

[22]  E. Bláhová,et al.  Matrix solid-phase dispersion for the liquid chromatographic determination of phenolic acids in Melissa officinalis. , 2003, Journal of chromatography. A.

[23]  E. Perry,et al.  Aromatherapy as a safe and effective treatment for the management of agitation in severe dementia: the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with Melissa. , 2002, The Journal of clinical psychiatry.

[24]  E. Perry,et al.  Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) , 2002, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior.

[25]  J. Patora,et al.  Flavonoids from lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L., Lamiaceae). , 2002, Acta poloniae pharmaceutica.

[26]  J. Tóth,et al.  The influence of the harvest cut height on the quality of the herbal drugs Melissae folium and Melissae herba. , 2002, Planta medica.

[27]  J. Tóth,et al.  [Comparison of the quality of Melissa officinalis L. cultivar Citra with Mellissas of European origin]. , 2001, Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti.

[28]  L. Mahran,et al.  Antiulcerogenic Effect of Some Gastrointestinally Acting Plant Extracts and their Combination , 2001, Arzneimittelforschung.

[29]  I. Sassin,et al.  [A plant extract and its modified preparation in functional dyspepsia. Results of a double-blind placebo controlled comparative study]. , 2001, Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie.

[30]  M. D. Cotrim,et al.  Comparative evaluation of Melissa officinalis L., Tilia europaea L., Passiflora edulis Sims. and Hypericum perforatum L. in the elevated plus maze anxiety test. , 2001, Pharmacopsychiatry.

[31]  Berdonces Jl.  Attention deficit and infantile hyperactivity , 2001 .

[32]  M. Hollá,et al.  [The content and quality of Melissa officinalis essential oil after application of Rastim 30 DKV]. , 2001, Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti.

[33]  D. Boskou,et al.  Antioxidative properties of water extracts obtained from herbs of the species Lamiaceae. , 2001, International journal of food sciences and nutrition.

[34]  Sharon L. Merritt,et al.  Efficacy and safety of herbal stimulants and sedatives in sleep disorders. , 2000, Sleep medicine reviews.

[35]  J. Reichling,et al.  In vitro effect of essential oils and isolated mono- and sesquiterpenes on Leishmania major and Trypanosoma brucei. , 2000, Planta medica.

[36]  J. Lamaison,et al.  Luteolin 3'-glucuronide, the major flavonoid from Melissa officinalis subsp. officinalis. , 2000, Fitoterapia.

[37]  E. Perry,et al.  CNS acetylcholine receptor activity in European medicinal plants traditionally used to improve failing memory. , 2000, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[38]  S. Palma,et al.  Dry plant extracts loaded on fumed silica for direct compression: preparation and preformulation. , 1999, Pharmaceutical development and technology.

[39]  R. Alken,et al.  Balm mint extract (Lo-701) for topical treatment of recurring herpes labialis. , 1999, Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology.

[40]  J. Hohmann,et al.  Protective Effects of the Aerial Parts of Salvia officinalis, Melissa officinalis and Lavandula angustifolia and their Constituents against Enzyme-Dependent and Enzyme-Independent Lipid Peroxidation , 1999, Planta medica.

[41]  A. Cerny,et al.  Tolerability and efficacy of valerian/lemon balm in healthy volunteers (a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study) , 1999 .

[42]  E. Perry,et al.  Medicinal Plants and Alzheimer's Disease: from Ethnobotany to Phytotherapy ** , 1999, The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology.

[43]  H. Schulz,et al.  The quantitative EEG as a screening instrument to identify sedative effects of single doses of plant extracts in comparison with diazepam. , 1998, Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology.

[44]  H. Boon,et al.  Herbal remedies in psychiatric practice. , 1998, Archives of general psychiatry.

[45]  T. Kawahata,et al.  Anti-HIV-1 activity of herbs in Labiatae. , 1998, Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin.

[46]  Y. Ohtake,et al.  A New Antioxidative 1,3-Benzodioxole from Melissa officinalis , 1998 .

[47]  J. Lamaison,et al.  The aromatic and polyphenolic composition of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L. subsp. officinalis) tea , 1998 .

[48]  E. Perry,et al.  Medicinal plants and Alzheimer's disease: Integrating ethnobotanical and contemporary scientific evidence. , 1998, Journal of alternative and complementary medicine.

[49]  D. Israel,et al.  Herbal Therapies for Perimenopausal and Menopausal Complaints , 1997, Pharmacotherapy.

[50]  F. Czygan,et al.  Melissa officinalis subsp. altissima : characteristics of a possible adulteration of lemon balm , 1997 .

[51]  F. Czygan,et al.  Ontogenetic variation of the essential leaf oil of Melissa officinalis L. , 1997 .

[52]  E. Widy-Tyszkiewicz,et al.  A randomized double blind study of sedative effects of phytotherapeutic containing valerian, hops, balm and motherwort versus placebo , 1997 .

[53]  C. Marcinkiewicz,et al.  The substances of plant origin that inhibit protein biosynthesis. , 1996, Acta poloniae pharmaceutica.

[54]  J. Betancourt,et al.  Screening of medicinal plants for induction of somatic segregation activity in Aspergillus nidulans. , 1996, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[55]  H. Maibach,et al.  Contact urticaria syndrome from multiple cosmetic components , 1995, Contact dermatitis.

[56]  A. Mosandl,et al.  On the authenticity evaluation of balm oil (Melissa officinalis L.) , 1995 .

[57]  M. Agut,et al.  Antimicrobial activity of essences from labiates. , 1995, Microbios.

[58]  K. Leonhardt,et al.  Local therapy of herpes simplex with dried extract from Melissa officinalis. , 1994, Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology.

[59]  N. Ward,et al.  Metal dispersion and transportational activities using food crops as biomonitors. , 1994, The Science of the total environment.

[60]  E. Havránek,et al.  A screening method for the determination of the residues of uracil herbicides in Melissa officinalis L. , 1994 .

[61]  S. Nishibe,et al.  Melitric Acids A and B, New Trimeric Caffeic Acid Derivatives from Melissa officinalis , 1993 .

[62]  S. Pancheva,et al.  Antiherpes effect of Melissa officinalis L. extracts. , 1993, Acta microbiologica Bulgarica.

[63]  E. Schulte,et al.  Genetic Variability of the Essential Oil Content of Melissa officinalis1. , 1992, Planta medica.

[64]  E. Schulte,et al.  Content and Composition of M. officinalis Oil in Relation to Leaf Position and Harvest Time1. , 1992, Planta medica.

[65]  R. Soulimani,et al.  Neurotropic action of the hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis in the mouse. , 1991, Planta medica.

[66]  E. Şarer,et al.  Constituents of the Essential Oil from Melissa officinalis , 1991, Planta medica.

[67]  J. Lamaison,et al.  [Medicinal Lamiaceae with antioxidant properties, a potential source of rosmarinic acid]. , 1991, Pharmaceutica acta Helvetiae.

[68]  B. Pussell,et al.  The inhibitory effect of rosmarinic acid on complement involves the C5 convertase. , 1991, International journal of immunopharmacology.

[69]  O. Lindahl,et al.  Double blind study of a Valerian preparation , 1989, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior.

[70]  Svendsen Ab,et al.  A simple method for screening of fresh plant material for glycosidic bound volatile compounds. , 1989 .

[71]  I. Kapétanidis,et al.  Eugenylglucoside, a New Natural Phenylpropanoid Heteroside from Melissa officinalis. , 1988, Journal of natural products.

[72]  M. Parnham,et al.  Rosmarinic acid: a new inhibitor of complement C3-convertase with anti-inflammatory activity. , 1988, International journal of immunopharmacology.

[73]  L. Glaze,et al.  Extraction of light filth from whole leaves of alfalfa, lemon balm, papaya, and spearmint: collaborative study. , 1987, Journal - Association of Official Analytical Chemists.

[74]  I. Kapétanidis,et al.  [Flavonoids of the leaves of Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae)]. , 1987, Pharmaceutica acta Helvetiae.

[75]  J. Chlabicz,et al.  The components of Melissa officinalis L. that influence protein biosynthesis in‐vitro , 1986, The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology.

[76]  B. Hausen,et al.  [Comparative studies of the sensitizing capacity of drugs used in herpes simplex]. , 1986, Dermatosen in Beruf und Umwelt. Occupation and environment.

[77]  S. Amir,et al.  Extracts and auto-oxidized constituents of certain plants inhibit the receptor-binding and the biological activity of Graves' immunoglobulins. , 1985, Endocrinology.

[78]  I. Koch-Heitzmann,et al.  Untersuchungen an Kalluskulturen von Melissa officinalis L., II Über wasserdampfflüchtige Diterpenkohlenwasserstoffe in nicht differenzierten Oberflächenkulturen / Investigations on Callus Cultures of Melissa officinalis L., II Votile Diterpene Hydrocarbons in Not Differentiated Static Cultures , 1985 .

[79]  R. Hesch,et al.  Inhibition by certain plant extracts of the binding and adenylate cyclase stimulatory effect of bovine thyrotropin in human thyroid membranes. , 1984, Endocrinology.

[80]  J. Köhrle,et al.  Antihormonal effects of plant extracts: iodothyronine deiodinase of rat liver is inhibited by extracts and secondary metabolites of plants. , 1984, Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme.

[81]  G. Tittel,et al.  [Chemical composition of the essential oil from melissa]. , 1982, Planta medica.

[82]  F. H. Kemper,et al.  Antihormonal Effects of Plant Extracts , 1982, Planta medica.

[83]  G. Stefanov,et al.  [Treatment of chronic colitis with an herbal combination of Taraxacum officinale, Hipericum perforatum, Melissa officinaliss, Calendula officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare]. , 1981, Vutreshni bolesti.

[84]  H. Forster,et al.  Antispasmodic Effects of Some Medicinal Plants , 1980, Planta medica.

[85]  G. Willuhn,et al.  [Antiviral effect of aqueous plant extracts in tissue culture]. , 1978, Arzneimittel-Forschung.

[86]  G. Cordell,et al.  Potential value of plants as sources of new antifertility agents I. , 1975, Journal of pharmaceutical sciences.

[87]  G. Cordell,et al.  Potential value of plants as sources of new antifertility agents II. , 1975, Journal of pharmaceutical sciences.

[88]  K. Büchner,et al.  [Double blind study as evidence of the therapeutic effect of Melissengeist on psycho-vegetative syndromes (author's transl)]. , 1974, Medizinische Klinik.

[89]  C. H. Brieskorn,et al.  Weitere Triterpene aus Melissa officinalis L. , 1974 .

[90]  H. Thieme,et al.  [Occurrence of flavonoids in Melissa officinalis L]. , 1973, Die Pharmazie.

[91]  F. Hefendehl,et al.  Zusammensetzung des ätherischen Öls von Melissa officinalis L. und sekundäre Veränderungen der Ölkomposition , 1970 .

[92]  M. Felklová,et al.  [Tannin compounds in leaves of Melissa officinalis L., invaded by Septoria melissae Desm]. , 1969, Ceskoslovenska farmacie.

[93]  E. C. Herrmann,et al.  Antiviral Substances in Plants of the Mint Family (Labiatae). II. Nontannin Polyphenol of Melissa officinalis. ∗ , 1967, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

[94]  E. C. Herrmann,et al.  Antiviral Substances in Plants of the Mint Family (Labiatae). I. Tannin of Melissa officinalis. ∗ , 1967, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

[95]  E. C. Herrmann,et al.  ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITIES OF EXTRACTS OF THE LEMON BALM PLANT * , 1965, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[96]  E. C. Herrmann,et al.  Antiviral Activity of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) Extract.∗ , 1964, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.