Melissa leaf (Balm, lemon-balm, balm mint) Melissa officinalis Melissa: girl’s name which means honeybee. In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who was shown the use of honey by the bees. She was one of the nymph nurses to Zeus when he was born to Rea in a cave that was sacred to bees.

1. HERBAL MEDICINE
MELISSA
DR. MOSTAFA MAHMOUD HEGAZY PH.D

2. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
‫الليمون‬ ‫ريحان‬ ‫ـ‬ ‫النحل‬ ‫حشيشة‬
–
‫الترنجان‬
–
‫مخزنية‬ ‫مليسة‬
Melissa leaf (Balm, lemon-balm, balm mint)
Melissa officinalis
Part used: Dried leaves and flowering tops.
Constituents:
 Volatile oil 0.06–0.375%: Contains at least 70 components, including:
monoterpenes >60%. Mainly aldehydes, including citronellal, geranial
and neral.
 Flavonoids 0.5%: Including glycosides of luteolin, quercetin, apigenin
and kaempferol.
 Polyphenols: Protocatechuic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives,
caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and rosmarinic acid.

3. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
Active Constituents:
1- Antiviral activity against HSV-1:
A- Caffeic acid and a component isolated from the glycoside fraction of
the extract (R1) but chlorogenic acid (ester of caffeic acid with quinic
acid) has no activity against HSV-1 (R3).
B- Melissa extract and rosmarinic acid (R2).
2- Antimicrobial activity of essential oil
Main Actions
Sedative, and virucidal effect of aqueous extracts of against HSV-1.
Other actions
Antimicrobial activity and Anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1
(HIV-1) activity has been reported for an aqueous extract of M. officinalis
in in vitro studies (potent inhibitory activity).

4. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
Other actions
Antimicrobial activity and Anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1
(HIV-1) activity has been reported for an aqueous extract of M. officinalis
in in vitro studies (potent inhibitory activity).
Uses based on scientific research
1- Give aroma to drinks e.g. tea.
2- Topically in herpes simplex labialis because of infection with herpes
simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).
3- Alternative treatments were used for genital herpes commonly with
Lomaherpan® cream (Melissa officinalis), lidocaine ointment and a diet
with reduced arginine and increased lysine the most frequent choices.
Other alternative treatments included olive leaf extract, Siberian ginseng,
and vitamin supplements (R6).

5. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
Dietary changes: Avoid low-lysine, high-arginine food
intake : such as chocolate, nuts, oats, wheat products , protein
supplements. Divert to high Lysine/Arginine ratio food: fruits
like apples, figs, Apple, Dairy products, particularity gelatin-
free Yogurt and all kind of meat (R8, R9).
3- Nervous sleeping disorders: well-tolerated and do not
appear to induce a 'hangover effect'.
4- Functional gastrointestinal complaints e.g. dyspepsia,
Relieves flatulence, spasm and Nervous stomach disorders
5- Neuralgia as spirits externally
6- With valerian for ADHD:(R5).
Dose: 3 gm valerian and 1.5 gm melissa/ 2 times daily.

6. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
Traditional uses
Lemon balm has been used traditionally for its sedative
(anxiolytic), spasmolytic and antibacterial properties. It is also
stated to be a carminative, diaphoretic and a febrifuge, and has
been used for headaches, gastrointestinal disorders,
nervousness and rheumatism.
Mechanism of action
Virucidal effect of melissa may be due to caffeic acid which
inhibits protein biosynthesis (R1).
Melissa extract and rosmarinic acid inhibited HSV-1 attachment
to host cells in a dose-dependent manner (R2).

7. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
Herb (single and blend) prescription
For insomnia: combination of valerian root, hops grains and lemon balm
leaves (were experiencing nervous agitation and/or difficulties falling asleep
and achieving uninterrupted sleep) good' or 'very good' by 97% of
physicians and 96% of patients and more effective than single melissa.
For herpes: Melissa and licorice have topical antiviral activity and can be
applied to herpes and similar outbreaks, as can essential oils such as tea tree
(provided the virus is enveloped) (R4).
Egyptian pharmaceutical products
Vividol® hair oil (120 and 250 ml) as antiseptic for scalp, Tress® hair
oil(120 and 250 ml) as antiseptic for scalp, Domaco® herbal drink 150 gm
(flatulence and spasms), Sekem® mood herbs 10 filter bags (anxiolytic),
Songha® night tab (insomnia), Vitagreen M® cap., Vitagreen N® cap.,
Vitagreen C® cap. and Vitagreen P® cap.

8. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
Interactions (if any) with other drugs or herbs or food
None documented. However, the potential for preparations of melissa to
interact with other medicines administered concurrently, particularly those
with similar or opposing effects, should be considered.
Adverse effects
skin sensitization may occur with melissa.
Contraindications
None documented. oral administration of lemon balm during pregnancy
and lactation should be avoided.

9. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
References
R1- Barnes, J., and L. A. Anderson. "Phillipson JD Herbal Medicines."
(2007). (No. Ed. 3). pharmaceutical press.
https://eg1lib.org/book/509684/7f37b3
R2- Astani, A., Reichling, J., & Schnitzler, P. (2012). Melissa officinalis
extract inhibits attachment of herpes simplex virus in vitro. Chemotherapy,
58(1), 70-77.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22377592/
R3- Ikeda, K., Tsujimoto, K., Uozaki, M., Nishide, M., Suzuki, Y., Koyama,
A. H., & Yamasaki, H. (2011). Inhibition of multiplication of herpes simplex
virus by caffeic acid. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 28(4),
595-598
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21725588/

10. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
R4- Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Modern Herbal Medicine
Mills, Simon, and Kerry Bone. Principles and practice of phytotherapy.
Modern herbal medicine. Churchill Livingstone, 2000.
https://eg1lib.org/book/2205391/035589
R5- Gromball, J., Beschorner, F., Wantzen, C., Paulsen, U., & Burkart, M.
(2014). Hyperactivity, concentration difficulties and impulsiveness
improve during seven weeks’ treatment with valerian root and lemon balm
extracts in primary school children. Phytomedicine, 21(8-9), 1098-1103.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711314001494
R6- Nicholson, M., & O’Farrell, N. (2021). Genital herpes–diagnosis,
treatments, attitudes and response to disclosure amongst members of the
UK Herpes Viruses Association. International journal of STD & AIDS,
32(1), 23-29.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0956462420951477

11. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy
R7- European medicines agency (EMA) melissa report
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/search/search/field_ema_web_categories%253Ana
me_field/Herbal?search_api_views_fulltext=%22Assessment%20report%20on%
20Melissa%20officinalis%20L.%2C%20folium%22
‫لمزيد‬
‫من‬
‫المعلومات‬
‫عن‬
‫حشيشة‬
‫النحل‬
‫على‬
‫مدونتي‬
https://cognosy4all.blogspot.com/2021/07/melissa.html
R8- Mailoo, V. J., & Rampes, S. (2017). Lysine for herpes simplex prophylaxis: a
review of the evidence. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, 16(3), 42.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6419779/
R9- Saadeldin, K. A., Aljafar, M. M., Alghamdi, A. A., Alsawidan, M. A.,
Almalki, A. H., Alateeq, F. S., & Alsudairi, A. A. (2017). The synergetic effect of
alternative medicine with acyclovir in the treatment and control of Herpes
Labialis; HSV1. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 66(1), 127-139.

12. Herbal medicine Dr. Mostafa Hegazy