Influence of the Melissa officinalis Leaf Extract on Long‐Term Memory in Scopolamine Animal Model with Assessment of Mechanism of Action

Abstract

Melissa officinalis (MO, English: lemon balm, Lamiaceae), one of the oldest and still most popular aromatic medicinal plants, is used in phytomedicine for the prevention and treatment of nervous disturbances. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of subchronic (28-fold) administration of a 50% ethanol extract of MO leaves (200 mg/kg, p.o.) compared with rosmarinic acid (RA, 10 mg/kg, p.o.) and huperzine A (HU, 0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) on behavioral and cognitive responses in scopolamine-induced rats. The results were linked with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and beta-secretase (BACE-1) mRNA levels and AChE and BuChE activities in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats. In our study, MO and HU, but not RA, showed an improvement in long-term memory. The results were in line with mRNA levels, since MO produced a decrease of AChE mRNA level by 52% in the cortex and caused a strong significant inhibition of BACE1 mRNA transcription (64% in the frontal cortex; 50% in the hippocampus). However, the extract produced only an insignificant inhibition of AChE activity in the frontal cortex. The mechanisms of MO action are probably more complicated, since its role as a modulator of beta-secretase activity should be taken into consideration.

Effect of cytokinins on shoots proliferation and rosmarinic and salvianolic acid B production in shoot culture of Dracocephalum forrestii W. W. Smith

“…Our previous studies have reported significant amounts of salvianolic acid B in transformed root cultures and the roots of a 1-year-old intact plant of D. forrestii (Weremczuk-Jeżyna et al 2016). In contrast to caffeic and rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acids are not common and have been found in only a few species (Ożarowski et al 2016;Ribeiro et al 2016;Cirlini et al 2016). They are mainly obtained from members of the Salvia genus, especially Salvia milthiorrhiza (Li et al 2009a).…”

Antibacterial Activity of Some Flavonoids and Organic Acids Widely Distributed in Plants

“…and thyme (Thymus spp.) species, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), common sage (Salvia officinalis L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) [35][36][37]. Another well-known secondary metabolite, the phytohormone salicylic acid (SA), is a key signaling compound that participates in the plant response to pathogens, herbivores, and abiotic stress [38].…”

Recent Advances in the Analysis of Rosmarinic Acid From Herbs in the Lamiaceae Family

“…2,3 Lamiaceae species have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of depression, headache, asthma, 4 stress, 5 and respiratory 6 and Alzheimer's diseases. 7,8 In addition, these plants have antioxidant, 9 antiallergic, 10 antimicrobial, 11 anticarcinogenic, 12 anti-inflammatory, 13 astringent, 14 and antiHIV-1 effects. 15 These properties are mainly due to phenolic compounds found in the plants, especially rosmarinic acid (RA).…”