The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis

doi:10.1002/ptr.7252

Review

. 2021 Dec;35(12):6690-6705.

doi: 10.1002/ptr.7252. Epub 2021 Aug 27.

The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Affiliations

¹ Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
² Department of Persian Medicine, Faculty of traditional medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
³ Student Research Committee, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁴ School of Medicine, Barwon Health, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁶ Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁷ Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁸ Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁹ Department of Midwifery, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

PMID: 34449930
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7252

Review

The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Javid Ghazizadeh et al. Phytother Res. 2021 Dec.

. 2021 Dec;35(12):6690-6705.

doi: 10.1002/ptr.7252. Epub 2021 Aug 27.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
² Department of Persian Medicine, Faculty of traditional medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
³ Student Research Committee, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁴ School of Medicine, Barwon Health, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁶ Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁷ Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁸ Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁹ Department of Midwifery, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

PMID: 34449930
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7252

Abstract

A systematic review and a meta-analytic approach were considered to investigate the effects of lemon balm as a medicinal herb on anxiety and depression in clinical trials and its side effects. All randomized clinical trials published up to October 30, 2020 that examined lemon balm in patients with symptoms of depression or anxiety, with acute or chronic manifestations, were searched in 12 online databases. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan software. Continuous data were analyzed using standardized mean differences. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Chi² , I² , and p value tests. Based on meta-analysis results, lemon balm significantly improved mean anxiety and depression scores compared with the placebo (SMD: -0.98; 95% CI: -1.63 to -0.33; p = 0.003), (SMD: -0.47; 95% CI: -0.73 to -0.21; p = 0.0005) respectively, without serious side effects. Current evidence suggests that lemon balm may be effective in improving anxiety and depressive symptoms, particularly in the acute setting. Due to the high level of heterogeneity between studies, results should be interpreted with caution. The small number of clinical trials and differences between their methods were the limitations of the present study. Further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the lemon balm.

Keywords: Melissa officinalis; anxiety; depression; lemon balm; systematic review.

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References

REFERENCES

1. Akhondzadeh, S., Noroozian, M., Mohammadi, M., Ohadinia, S., Jamshidi, A. H., & Khani, M. (2003). Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: A double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 74(7), 863-866.
1. Alijaniha, F., Naseri, M., Afsharypuor, S., Fallahi, F., Noorbala, A., Mosaddegh, M., … Sadrai, S. (2015). Heart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 164, 378-384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.007
1. Araj-Khodaei, M., Noorbala, A. A., Yarani, R., Emadi, F., Emaratkar, E., Faghihzadeh, S., … Naseri, M. (2020). A double-blind, randomized pilot study for comparison of Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia mill. With fluoxetine for the treatment of depression. BMC Complementary and Medicine Therapies, 20(1), 207. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03003-5
1. Arceusz, A., Wesolowski, M., & Ulewicz-Magulska, B. (2015). Flavonoids and phenolic acids in Methanolic extracts, infusions and tinctures from commercial samples of lemon balm. Natural Product Communications, 10(6), 977-981.
1. Auf'mkolk, M., Ingbar, J. C., Kubota, K., Amir, S. M., & Ingbar, S. H. (1985). Extracts and auto-oxidized constituents of certain plants inhibit the receptor-binding and the biological activity of graves' immunoglobulins. Endocrinology, 116(5), 1687-1693. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-116-5-1687

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[1] Akhondzadeh, S., Noroozian, M., Mohammadi, M., Ohadinia, S., Jamshidi, A. H., & Khani, M. (2003). Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: A double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 74(7), 863-866.

[2] Akhondzadeh, S., Noroozian, M., Mohammadi, M., Ohadinia, S., Jamshidi, A. H., & Khani, M. (2003). Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: A double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 74(7), 863-866.

[3] Alijaniha, F., Naseri, M., Afsharypuor, S., Fallahi, F., Noorbala, A., Mosaddegh, M., … Sadrai, S. (2015). Heart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 164, 378-384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.007

[4] Alijaniha, F., Naseri, M., Afsharypuor, S., Fallahi, F., Noorbala, A., Mosaddegh, M., … Sadrai, S. (2015). Heart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 164, 378-384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.007

[5] Araj-Khodaei, M., Noorbala, A. A., Yarani, R., Emadi, F., Emaratkar, E., Faghihzadeh, S., … Naseri, M. (2020). A double-blind, randomized pilot study for comparison of Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia mill. With fluoxetine for the treatment of depression. BMC Complementary and Medicine Therapies, 20(1), 207. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03003-5

[6] Araj-Khodaei, M., Noorbala, A. A., Yarani, R., Emadi, F., Emaratkar, E., Faghihzadeh, S., … Naseri, M. (2020). A double-blind, randomized pilot study for comparison of Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia mill. With fluoxetine for the treatment of depression. BMC Complementary and Medicine Therapies, 20(1), 207. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03003-5

[7] Arceusz, A., Wesolowski, M., & Ulewicz-Magulska, B. (2015). Flavonoids and phenolic acids in Methanolic extracts, infusions and tinctures from commercial samples of lemon balm. Natural Product Communications, 10(6), 977-981.

[8] Arceusz, A., Wesolowski, M., & Ulewicz-Magulska, B. (2015). Flavonoids and phenolic acids in Methanolic extracts, infusions and tinctures from commercial samples of lemon balm. Natural Product Communications, 10(6), 977-981.

[9] Auf'mkolk, M., Ingbar, J. C., Kubota, K., Amir, S. M., & Ingbar, S. H. (1985). Extracts and auto-oxidized constituents of certain plants inhibit the receptor-binding and the biological activity of graves' immunoglobulins. Endocrinology, 116(5), 1687-1693. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-116-5-1687

[10] Auf'mkolk, M., Ingbar, J. C., Kubota, K., Amir, S. M., & Ingbar, S. H. (1985). Extracts and auto-oxidized constituents of certain plants inhibit the receptor-binding and the biological activity of graves' immunoglobulins. Endocrinology, 116(5), 1687-1693. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-116-5-1687

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The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Affiliations

The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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