Abstract

Melissa officinalis L., a valuable medicinal plant in herbal medicine is native to the eastern Mediterranean Region and western Asia. The constituent of the essential oil of the plant in various climates is different, but citral (geranial and neral), citronellal, geraniol are main components. Many parameters influencing essential oil composition and yield, such as light intensity, nutrient, temperature, cultural practice genotype, plant part age, harvesting time. Lemon balm has been traditionally used for different medical purposes as tonic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, surgical dressing for wounds, sedative-hypnotic strengthening the memory, and relief of stress induced headache, but in modern pharmacology is value in the management of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, against migraine and rheumatism, antitumel and antioxidant activities.

Key words: Melissa officinalis, essential oil, pharmacology and antioxidant.