title: Melissa officinalis L. decoctions as functional beverages: a bioactive approach and chemical characterization.
abstract: Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is a member of the Lamiaceae family with a long story of human consumption. It has been consumed for decades, directly in food and as a decoction or an infusion for its medicinal purposes. In this manuscript, a detailed chemical characterization of the decoction of this plant is described, encompassing antimicrobial, antioxidant and antitumor activities. Rosmarinic acid and lithospermic acid A were the most abundant phenolic compounds. Quinic acid, fructose, glucose and γ-tocopherol were the most abundant within their groups of molecules. M. officinalis decoctions were active against a wide range of microorganisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium, and Penicillium funiculosum being the most sensitive bacteria and fungi, respectively. The growth inhibition of different human tumor cell lines (mainly MCF-7 and HepG2) was also observed, as also high free radical scavenging activity and reducing power. This manuscript highlights some beneficial effects of these functional beverages.
authors.affiliation: Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 1172, 5301-855, Bragança, Portugal. iferreira@ipb.pt.
authors.forename: Márcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carocho
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Ricardo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Calhelha
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ćirić
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soković
authors.forename: Celestino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos-Buelga
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Isabel C F R
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D031334:Melissa / Q000737:chemistry*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts