Melissa officinalis: A potent herb against EMS induced mutagenicity in mice

Abstract

Melissa officinalis (L) is used traditionally for different medical purposes such as tonic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, surgical dressing for wounds, sedative hypnotic, strengthening the memory and relief of stress induced headache.The methanolic extractof Melissa officinalis (Mo-ME) was investigated for antimutagenic activity. The extraction was done by Soxhlet extraction method and the extract was evaluated for antimutagenic assay against EMS induced mice by micronucleus and chromosomal aberration assay. Briefly, mice were treated with methanolic extract of Melissa officinalis (Mo-ME) (100, 200 300 & 400 mg/kgbw) for 15 days. Without the doses of EMS, no and mutagenic effects were observed in blood and bone marrow samples of the mice. Micronucleus and chromosomal aberration test revealed the protective effects of Mo-ME when administered at high doses.The reduction profiles in the MN induction of methanolic extract of Melissa officinalis at the concentration (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kgbw) with EMS were estimated as 14.5%, 28.0%, 47.7% and 81.5% respectively. The methanolic extract of Melissa officinalis exhibited no cytotoxic and mutagenic effects but only have antimutagenic effects, an effect that can be attributed the presence of majorital compounds, and the antimutagenic property of Mo-ME is an indication of its medicinal relevance.