Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Jan 10;246:112208. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112208. Epub 2019 Aug 30.
Melissa officinalis L., commonly known as lemon balm, is one of the most well known edible and medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family. It is quoted in almost all known medical treatises, from Antiquity up to modern era, such as Corpus Hippocraticum, Dioscorides' De Materia Medica and later on in medieval medical manuscripts and Pharmacopoeias. Actually, it is widely used as herbal medicine for the relief of mild symptoms of mental stress, to aid sleep and for symptomatic treatment of mild gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence. In Greece, the empirical physicians "vikoyiatroi" recommended the decoction of dry flowers and leaves to treat tracheobronchitis, hysteria, epilepsy, heart arrhythmias, as hypnotic and against skin disorders.
The present study was conducted to investigate the potential beneficial effects in psoriasis in mice of M. officinalis ssp. altissima and to carry out the chemical analysis in order to reveal its main bioactive secondary metabolites.
Non polar and polar extracts of M. officinalis ssp. altissima aerial parts were prepared by using dichloromethane and methanol, successively; in addition a decoction was made upon oral information by local users in Crete, where the plant was collected. All three preparations were chemically analyzed in order to isolate their main constituents. Chemical structures of all isolated compounds were determined by 1D, 2D-NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of extracts and decoction was evaluated through DPPH radical scavenging capability. The in vivo in mice anti-psoriatic efficacy of all preparations was estimated through clinical and histopathological assessment and measurements of TEWL and hydration.
The dichloromethane extract yielded ursolic acid, 2α-hydroxy-ursolic acid, pomolic acid, 3β-stearyloxy-urs-12-ene, oleanolic acid, noropacursane and campesterol; the methanol extract afforded rosmarinic acid and methyl rosmarinate, while from the decoction caffeic acid, 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)lactic acid and rosmarinic acid were isolated. The psoriasis evaluation, based on PASI score, photodocumentation and histopathological estimation showed that the decoction primarily and the dichloromethane extract secondly could significantly contribute to psoriasis treatment. The decoction seems able to reestablish skin physiology by decreasing dryness and enhancing skin barrier function. Moreover, the decoction showed the best antioxidant activity, while the dichloromethane extract the weakest.
The triterpene derivatives of the dichloromethane extract are likely to be responsible for its anti-psoriatic activity. The abundant polyphenolic load of the decoction contributes to its high antioxidant activity and the most effective results against psoriasis. The anti-psoriatic activity of the decoction confirmed the traditional use of this plant as antioxidant, wound healing and skin barrier repair agent.
柠檬香脂，俗称香蜂草，是唇形科中最著名的可食用和药用植物之一。它几乎出现在所有已知的医学著作中，从古至今，如希波克拉底文集、《药物学》和后来的中世纪医学手稿和药典。实际上，它被广泛用作草药，用于缓解轻度精神压力症状，帮助睡眠，并用于治疗轻度胃肠道不适，包括腹胀和胀气。在希腊，经验丰富的医生“vikoyiatroi”推荐干花和叶子的煎剂来治疗气管炎、癔病、癫痫、心律失常、催眠和皮肤疾病。
本研究旨在探讨柠檬香脂柠檬亚种对小鼠银屑病的潜在有益作用，并进行化学成分分析，以揭示其主要的生物活性次生代谢物。
采用二氯甲烷和甲醇依次提取柠檬香脂柠檬亚种的非极性和极性提取物；此外，根据当地使用者在克里特岛的口服信息制备了煎剂，在那里收集了该植物。对所有三种制剂进行了化学分析，以分离其主要成分。通过 1D、2D-NMR 和 UV-Vis 光谱确定所有分离化合物的化学结构。此外，通过 DPPH 自由基清除能力评估提取物和煎剂的抗氧化潜力。通过临床和组织病理学评估以及 TEWL 和水合作用测量，估计所有制剂在小鼠体内的抗银屑病功效。
二氯甲烷提取物中含有熊果酸、2α-羟基熊果酸、齐墩果酸、3β-硬脂酰氧基-urs-12-烯、齐墩果酸、诺洛帕库烷和谷甾醇；甲醇提取物中含有迷迭香酸和甲基迷迭香酸，而从煎剂中分离出咖啡酸、3-(3,4-二羟基苯基)乳酸和迷迭香酸。基于 PASI 评分、光记录和组织病理学评估的银屑病评估表明，煎剂主要和二氯甲烷提取物其次可显著有助于银屑病的治疗。煎剂似乎能够通过减少干燥和增强皮肤屏障功能来恢复皮肤生理机能。此外，煎剂显示出最好的抗氧化活性，而二氯甲烷提取物的抗氧化活性最弱。
二氯甲烷提取物中的三萜衍生物可能是其抗银屑病活性的原因。煎剂中丰富的多酚含量有助于其高抗氧化活性和对银屑病最有效的治疗效果。煎剂的抗银屑病活性证实了该植物作为抗氧化剂、伤口愈合剂和皮肤屏障修复剂的传统用途。
