Pharmaceuticals and Therapeutic Potentialities of Melissa officinalis L. –A Review
Nabgha Zafar
*
Jinnah University for Women, Pakistan.
Adnan Zafar
Malaysia University of Science and Technology, Malaysia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Melissa officinalis is used for its therapeutic properties all over the world in the prevention of numerous diseases. It has several bioactive compounds viz. flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and essential oil. Triterpenes (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid), phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid), flavonoids (quercetin, rhamnocitrin, and luteolin), and volatile chemicals (geranial, neral, citronellal, and geraniol) etc. The biological researches indicate that Melissa officinalis essential oil and extracts include active components that determine a variety of pharmacological actions with potential medical applications. This review sought to summarize Melissa officinal's botanical traits, traditional uses, phytochemicals, and its pharmacological actions which indicate the effective use of Melissa officinalis as an alternate treatment option for combating numerous disorders due to the presence of vast amount of phytochemical constituents contributing to its various therapeutic potential.
Keywords: Melissa officinalis, phytochemicals, therapeutic uses, vasorelaxant, analgesic, hypnotic