title: Chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Melissa officinalis L. from Romania.
abstract: Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) is used in traditional medicine to treat insomnia, anxiety, gastric conditions, psychiatric conditions, migraines, hypertension and bronchial conditions. Natural essential oils (mixtures of fragrant chemical) obtained from various parts of plants are efficient active antimicrobial agents. The widespread use of antimicrobial agents selects resistant bacterial strains, which seriously compromise the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. The use of herbal medicines might be a precautionary measure to prevent the development of lack of susceptibility to synthetic antibiotics that is associated with therapeutic failures.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this work, the chemical composition and the antimicrobial properties of essential oil from romanian Melissa officinalis were determined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro antimicrobial activity of lemon balm oil by comparison with lavender essential oil, which is also utilised for its antimicrobial properties in folk medicine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most important identified compounds, well known for their antimicrobial effects were citral (neral and geranial) (16.10%), citronellal (3.76%) and trans-caryophyllene (3.57%).The lemon balm oil sample exhibited a higher degree antibacterial activity than did Lavandula oil against Gram-positive strains. The both oil samples tested has shown a high activity against Candida albicans. The gram-negative bacteria were not affected by the lemon balm oil.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr.T. Popa" Iaşi.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hăncianu
authors.forename: Ana Clara
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Aprotosoaie
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gille
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poiată
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tuchiluş
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spac
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stănescu
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D027523:Lavandula; D031334:Melissa / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012383:Romania
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; C045718:lavender oil