Investigating the phytochemical, antimicrobial and anti-Alzheimer properties of lemon balm extract (Melissa officinalis)

Subject Areas : biochemical

Giti Ghasemi ¹ , Amir Arasteh ²

1 - Master's degree, Department of Biology, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

Received: 2023-08-14 Accepted : 2024-02-15 Published : 2024-08-30

Keywords: Melissa officinalis, phytochemical, amyloid, Alzheimer's, lemon balm,

Abstract :

Objective: Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is one of the most important medicinal plants and belongs to the mint family, which is known as a medicine that increases memory. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effective compounds, anti-microbial effects and inhibitory effects of hydroalcoholic extract of lemon balm for the production of amyloid nanofibers as an effective agent in Alzheimer's disease.

Materials and methods: The effective compounds of lemo balm plant were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial effects on two bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated by well method and the values ​​of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined. The inhibitory effects of lemon balm extract on the fibrillation of bovine serum albumin were investigated by Concord absorbance method.

Findings: The presence of the active substance pyrrolidinone was confirmed with a probability of 90%. The diameter of the halo of non-growth of hydroalcoholic lemon balm extract for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was 20 and 17 mm, respectively, and the MIC and MBC values ​​were 0.137, 0.068, 0.068, and 0.068 g/ml, respectively. Liter was obtained. The maximum inhibition of amyloid nanofibers was observed at a concentration of 4 mg/ml of lemon balm extract.

Conclusion: lemon balm extract with proper antimicrobial effects and lower side effects and cost than other synthetic drugs can have a good effect against infectious agents. By inhibiting the production of amyloid nanofibers, lemon balm extract can be useful for reducing the complications of Alzheimer's disease.

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