The potential of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) essential oil as an anti-anxiety agent – is the citronellal the activity carrier?

Thu, 06/29/2023 - 09:42

June 28, 2023

Anxiety is a growing issue in society, especially among young people. The terms anxious and being nervous are often used interchangeably, and it is pretty common to hear someone say that he is feeling anxious when faced with a situation that makes them uncomfortable. Normal anxiety levels represent our body alarm system, which improves people's attention and problem-solving, motivates work towards goal, and does not negatively interfere with daily functioning. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric conditions; up to 33.7% of people suffer from an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric conditions; up to 33.7% of people suffer from an anxiety disorder during their lifetime.  Among the fewest drugs discovered are those belonging to the class of anxiolytics. Although some drug targets for anxiety disorders are established, it is hard to modify and selectively choose the active principle for those targets. Thus, the ethno medical approach to treating anxiety disorders remains one of the most prevalent ways for (self)managing the symptoms. Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) has been extensively used as an ethnomedicinal remedy for the treatment of different psyche-related symptoms, especially dose related to restlessness. According to studies, more than 40% of patients in Serbia suffering from different non-psychotic disorders use different herbal products for the treatment of their symptoms. One of the most frequently used plant species was reported to be Melissa officinalis. 

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Therapeutic Effect and Mechanisms of Essential Oils in Mood Disorders: Interaction between the Nervous and Respiratory Systems

March 20, 2022

Since therapeutic effects of essential oils has been widely investigated, recent studies show that application of essential oils for anxiety and pain relief is very successful especially when they are used in combination with conventional treatment. Essential Oils can be administered through oral consumption, direct skin contact, or inhalation. Among all different administration routes, inhalation is the most commonly adopted method. Moreover, Essential oils from different plant extracts demonstrate different effects. For instance, lavender and bergamot essential oils are widely used in either  single use or mixed use for relaxation. It has been shown that the different positive effects were linked to specific constituents in essential oils. Therefore, application of essential oils in combined form maximizes their therapeutic effect due their different molecular compounds.

Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils against the Clostridioides difficile

February 20, 2022

The repeat use of antibiotics produce increased bacterial resistances and changes in the normal gut ecosystem. An infection that develops in the gastrointestinal tract caused by the Clostridium difficile bacterium is referred to as a C. difficile infection. Most individuals develop this type of infection because they have taken antibiotic medications to treat an unrelated infection that has thrown their gut microflora out of balance and allowed for the overgrowth of the Clostridium difficile bacterium. C. difficile  that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon.

A Recent Insight Regarding the Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of Origanum vulgare L. Essential Oil

 January 29, 2022

Origanum vulgare L. is a widely used aromatic plant, especially due to its content in essential oil, mainly rich in carvacrol and thymol. The ethnopharmacological uses of Origanum vulgare L. essential oil (OEO) comprise digestive, respiratory, or dermatological disorders.

The effectiveness of Origanum vulgare L. essential oil (OEO) against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria has been extensively studied. As it has been shown by an increased number of studies in the field, OEO represents an efficient alternative as an antimicrobial agent against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strain. The disinfectant and antibacterial properties of the OEO were attested for the first time in ancient Greece, where it was frequently utilized for treating bacterial skin and wound contaminations. It was also used as a food preservative.  Carvacrol and thymol represent the two primary phenols, constituting almost 78–85% of the OEO and they are responsible for the plant’s antimicrobial properties . The antibacterial activity of the OEO results from the high level of thymol which, according to Lambert et al. ties to membrane proteins and increases the permeability of the bacterial cell membrane. In the same way, carvacrol acts on bacterial cells causing structural and functional damage, which increases bacterial cell membrane permeability.

Cold-pressed Oil From Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) Inhibits the Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

December 24, 2021

The abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a major role in cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis. VSMCs are found in the vascular wall and responsible for the tone and contractions of arteries, which regulate blood pressure and flow in response to specific metabolic demands.

 It has been reported that natural compounds have a positive effect on cardiovascular diseases and improve some vascular functions. One of the promising novel treatments of vascular diseases in various natural products is essential oils. EOs and their constituents are promising as therapeutic agents as they have been demonstrated to functionally improve cardiovascular disease.

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