It is a native of Europe and central Asia, and is now cultivated in most temperate and subtropical regions all over the world. Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis L.), also known as balm, English balm, garden balm, balm mint, common balm, melissa, sweet balm, heart’s delight, is an aromatic herb from the mint family (Lamiaceae). A moderate amount of investigation on lemon balm has been carried out to determine its medicinal effects such as antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor and sedative effects. It has a wide range of uses for medicinal, antimicrobial, antioxidant purposes and as a functional food. Lemon balm in food processing has a wide range of uses, such as tea, herb, flavourant or culinary. It, as a perennial plant, can be harvested twice or three times a season just before blooming. Lemon balm can be propagated from seeds, stem cuttings and root division. Today, lemon balm is widely cultivated in Europe and the United States, but also grows wild along paths and roadsides. Therefore, apart from protection of biodiversity, its cultivation is commercially attractive to companies, as providing standard raw material in terms of quality and supply. Cultivation of these species should alleviate the pressure on the wild populations and avoid their extinction. In some countries, such as Turkey, Syria and the Kingdom of Jordan, many medicinal and aromatic plants, including lemon balm, are collected from the flora. Lemon balm is one of those plants and is used in several areas. There has been a growing demand for plant-based medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, cosmetics, etc. It is a cross-pollinating species and has complete perfect flowers with very short-stalked epidermal glands. Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis L.) belongs to the family Labiatae (Mint family) is an aromatic and fairly hardy perennial sub-shrub. Turhan, in Handbook of Herbs and Spices, VolPublisher Summary Does Melissa officinalis cause withdrawal or dependence?. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
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Attachment and penetration of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus are inhibited by Melissa officinalis extract. Rosmarinic acid potentiates pentobarbital-Induced sleep behaviors and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep through the activation of GABAA-ergic systems. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. Valerian/lemon balm use for sleep disorders during menopause. Does Melissa officinalis cause withdrawal or dependence? Med Arch. Anti-stress effects of lemon balm-containing foods. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences. Diet therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in view of traditional Persian medicine: A review. A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology.