Melissa officinalis L. essential oil: antitumoral and antioxidant activities
Open Access
- 1 May 2004
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Vol. 56 (5), 677-681
- https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357023321
Abstract
Melissa officinalis L (lemon balm) is a traditional herbal medicine used widely as a mild sedative, spasmolytic and antibacterial agent. This paper focuses on the analysis of the chemical composition and the biological activities of M. officinalis essential oil obtained under controlled harvesting and drying conditions. An in-vitro cytotoxicity assay using MTT indicated that this oil was very effective against a series of human cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, Caco-2, HL-60, K562) and a mouse cell line (B16F10). This oil possessed antioxidant activity, as evidenced by reduction of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH). These results pointed to the potential use of M. officinalis essential oil as an antitumoral agent.Keywords
Funding Information
- Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas
- Fundação Carlos Chagas de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
- Fundação Universitá ria José Bonifácio
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