Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Melissa officinalis L., commonly known as lemon balm, is one of the most well known edible and medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family. It is quoted in almost all known medical treatises, from Antiquity up to modern era, such as Corpus Hippocraticum, Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica and later on in medieval medical manuscripts and Pharmacopoeias. Actually, it is widely used as herbal medicine for the relief of mild symptoms of mental stress, to aid sleep and for symptomatic treatment of mild gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence. In Greece, the empirical physicians “vikoyiatroi” recommended the decoction of dry flowers and leaves to treat tracheobronchitis, hysteria, epilepsy, heart arrhythmias, as hypnotic and against skin disorders.

Aim of the study

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential beneficial effects in psoriasis in mice of M. officinalis ssp. altissima and to carry out the chemical analysis in order to reveal its main bioactive secondary metabolites.

 

Dimas Dimitris, Tomou Ekaterina-Michaela Karamani, Christina Sfiniadakis, Ioannis Siakavella K., Ioanna Liakopoulou, Aggeliki Hatziantoniou, Sophia Rallis, Michael Skaltsa Helen, Melissa officinalis ssp. altissima extracts: A therapeutic approach targeting psoriasis in mice, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol 246, 10 January 2020

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.112208