Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Zorana Đinđića 81, 18000, Niš, Serbia.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Zorana Đinđića 81, 18000, Niš, Serbia.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2019 Nov;133:110794. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.110794. Epub 2019 Aug 29.
Despite being renowned for its volatiles, the data on the toxicity of the essential oil of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L., Lamiaceae) is rather limited compared to its solvent/water-soluble extractibles. In this study, the aerial parts essential oil of M. officinalis, with over 130 constituents identified herein, 26 of which detected for the first time, was investigated for acute oral toxicity in BALB/c mice. The oil, composed of predominantly monoterpene aldehydes, citronellal (21.2-21.8%), neral (17.8-18.4%), and geranial (22.9-23.5%), which were assayed in parallel with the oil in some tests, induced significant changes in animal behavior, as well as altered biochemical parameters reflecting liver and kidney functions. Different pathological changes in the stomach, duodenum, liver, and kidneys were detected when the oil was administered in doses higher than 1 g kg. A depletion in the liver/kidney antioxidant capacities and an increased rate of lipid peroxidation was noted for animals treated with lemon balm oil. The calculated value of the oral LD in BALB/c mice (2.57 g kg) infers that the essential oil is only moderately toxic.
尽管香蜂草（ Melissa officinalis L.，唇形科）以其挥发性物质而闻名，但与溶剂/水溶性提取物相比，其精油的毒性数据相当有限。在这项研究中，我们研究了香蜂草地上部分的精油，其中鉴定出超过 130 种成分，其中 26 种是首次检测到的，并用 BALB/c 小鼠进行了急性口服毒性试验。该油主要由单萜醛组成，其中柠檬醛（21.2-21.8%）、橙花醛（17.8-18.4%）和香叶醛（22.9-23.5%）的含量较高，这些成分在一些试验中与油一起进行了检测。这些成分会引起动物行为的显著变化，并改变反映肝功能和肾功能的生化参数。当给予高于 1 g/kg 的剂量时，在胃、十二指肠、肝和肾中检测到不同的病理变化。用香蜂草油处理的动物的肝/肾抗氧化能力下降，脂质过氧化速率增加。BALB/c 小鼠口服 LD 的计算值（2.57 g/kg）表明，该精油仅具有中度毒性。
