Minerals, Essential Oils, and Biological Properties of Melissa officinalis L.

Abstract

This study describes the minerals elements, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Algerian Melissa officinalis plant. The essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation (HD) using a Clevenger-type apparatus of dry leaves of M. officinalis and was analyzed by two techniques, gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Eighteen minerals comprising both macro- and microelements (As, Br, K, La, Na, Sb, Sm, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Rb, Sc, Th, and Zn) were determined using neutron activation analysis technique for the first time from Algerian Melissa officinalis plant. Seventy-eight compounds were identified in the essential oil, representing 94.090% of the total oil and the yields were 0.470%. The major component was geranial (45.060%). Other predominant components were neral (31.720%) and citronellal (6.420%). The essential oil presented high antimicrobial activity against microorganisms, mainly five human pathogenic bacteria, one yeast, Candida albicans, and two phytopathogenic fungi. The results can be used as a source of information for the pharmaceutical industry and medical research.

Effect of Extraction Methods on Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Mineral Elements, and Biological Activities of Essential Oil and Extracts of Mentha pulegium L.

“…Medicinal plants and their medicinal properties have been widely studied, especially in developing countries [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. The World Health Organization has acknowledged the importance of medicinal plants, along with traditional medicine, which has received global attention [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Lobularia libyca: Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity Using In Vitro and In Silico Studies

“…An antibiotic was used to compare the biological effects of the plant extract to that of the antibiotic used, namely, Amoxyclav AMC30:30 µg/disc. Once the incubation period was over, the Petri dishes were taken to measure the inhibition zone diameters (mm) of the extracts, the antibiotic and the control, which reveal the antimicrobial activity of the extract [22].…”

Melissa officinalis L. Essential Oil: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities- in vitro Study

“…Moreover, the essential oil obtained by microdistillation of aerial parts of M. officinalis (Bulgarian origin) showed potent antioxidant activity. In another study, the low antioxidant properties of EO of M. officinalis was mainly explained by attributed to the low contents of volatile phenolic compounds such as camphor and carvacrol [23].…”

“…Previously studies suggested that the high pharmacological capacity of this plant is mainly related to its richness in secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolic acid, and terpenes [22]. Other secondary metabolites such as eugenol, octinol, octin, octinone, citral, hexenol, and haramin from M. officinalis essential oil contribute to its powerful activity [23]. This essential oil of this plant has long been used due to its antioxidant, antifungal and antimicrobial properties [24][25][26].…”

“…The M. officinalis essential oil has been demonstrated for its high effect against four bacterial nosocomial infections: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Citrobacter koseri [16]. Also, the high antimicrobial activity against microorganisms, mainly five human pathogenic bacteria, one yeast, Candida albicans, and two phytopathogenic fungi has been reported [23]. Moreover, the essential oil obtained by microdistillation of aerial parts of M. officinalis (Bulgarian origin) showed potent antioxidant activity.…”