Lemon Balm (Melissa
officinalis L.) Hydrolate Poorly Influences Isolated Rat Gastric
Fundus Motility
Nikola M.
Stojanović1, Sara Mladenović2, Bogdan Stojiljković2,
Aleksandar Marković2, Dragana Pavlović3, Pavle
Randjelović1,
Jelena Zvezdanović4, Ljiljana Stanojević4
1University
of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Niš, Serbia
2University
of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Niš, Serbia
3University
of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Niš, Serbia
4University
of Niš, Faculty of Technology, Leskovac, Serbia
SUMMARY
Introduction. Lemon balm has been used for centuries due to its
strong sedative, antimicrobial and spasmolytic effects. Besides
different types of extracts and essential oils, hydrolates
(by-products obtained during essential oil extraction) are
preparations of aromatic medicinal plants with potential
pharmacological activity.
Aim. To estimate Melissa
officinalis leaves hydrolate effects on gastric motility.
Methods. The influence of the hydrolate was tested
in vitro in a tissue bath
in the rat fundus spontaneous contraction experimental model.
Increasing volumes of sample (making the final concentration span
0.5 – 500 µl/ml) were successively added to the tissue bath.
Results. Lower doses of the hydrolate did not produce any
significant changes in the contraction patterns, while the higher
ones led to a statistically significant increase in basal tone of
the stomach fundus. Yet, these changes in basal tonus were still
modest. Phytochemical qualitative characterization, done by liquid
chromatography with ultra-high performances, showed that rosmarinic
acid was dominant compound of
M. officinalis hydrolate.
Conclusion. Although the tested hydrolate poorly influences isolated
rat gastric fundus motility, further studies could clarify its
pharmacological activity and potential future application of this
by-product of M. officinalis hydrodestilation.
Keywords:
Melissa officinalis,
hydrolate, gastric fundus, contractions
Corresponding author:
Nikola M Stojanović
e-mail: nikola.st90@yahoo.com