Melissa Essential Oil

Antiviral: Melissa is active against viruses such as HSV II in vitro

Allahverdiyev, A., Duran, N., Ozguven, M. and Koltas S. (2004) Antiviral activity of the volatile oils of Melissa officinalis L. against Herpes simplex type-2. Phytomedicine 11, 657-661.

It has therapeutic value in dementia as it can encourage calmness, reduce agitation, and enhance cognition

Ballard, C.G., O’Brien, C.T., Reichelt, K. and Perry, E.K. (2002) Aromatherapy as a safe and effective treatment for the management of agitation in severe dementia: the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with melissa. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 63, 553-558.

Anti-inflammatory: Due to the citral content, Melissa essential oil has the potential to reduce inflammation and pain. CNS sedative: In traditional Moroccan medicine, Melissa is used as an antispasmodic with calming actions.

Bounihi, A., Hajjaj, G., Alnamer, R., Cherrah, Y. and Zellou, A. (2013) In vivo potential anti-inflammatory activity of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences doi: 10.1155/2013/101759. Accessed at

http://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3870089

Antidepressant: Citral has relaxing and antidepressant properties (Yim et al. 2009), and citronellal has sedative and sleep-inducing properties, as well as antinociceptive actions

Melo, M.S., Sena, L.C.S., Barreto, F.J.N., Bonjardim, L.R., Almeida, J.R.G.S., Lima, J.T., de Sousa, D.P. and Quintans-Júnior, L. (2010) Antinociceptive effects of citronellal in mice. Pharmaceutical Biology 48, 411-416.

Analgesic: Melissa is dominated by citral, which has antinociceptive action. Antidepressant: Citral has relaxing and antidepressant properties (Yim et al. 2009), and citronellal has sedative and sleep-inducing properties, as well as antinociceptive actions

Quintans-Júnior, L.J., Melo, M.S., de Sousa, D.P., Araujo, A.A., Onofre, A.C., Gelain, D.P., Gonçalves, J.C., Araújo, D.A., Almeida, J.R. and Bonjardim, LR. (2010) Antinociceptive activity of citronellal in formalin-, capsaicin- and glutamate-induced orofacial nociception in rodents and its action on nerve excitability. Journal of Orofacial Pain 24, 305-312.

Quintans-Júnior, L.J., Guimarães, A.G., Santana, M.T., Araujo, B.E.S., Moreira, F.V., Bonjardim, L.R.; Araujo, A.A.S.,Siqueira, J.S., Antoniolli, A.R. and Botelho, M.A. (2011) Citral reduces nociceptive and anti-inflammatory response in rodents. Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy 21, 497-502.

Antibacterial: The antibacterial activity is due, at least in part, to citral and citronellal. Immunostimulant: Melissa is thought to have immunostimulant activity which is related to its anti-inflammatory properties, both due in part to the presence of citral.

Saad, N.Y., Muller, C.D. and Lobstein, A. (2013) Major bioactivities and mechanism of action of essential oils and their components. Flavour and Fragrance Journal 28, 269-279.

Antioxidant: The essential oil has antioxidant activity, which is related to the presence of citral and citronellal

Shaaban, H.A.E., El-Ghorab, A.H. and Shibamoto, T. (2012) Bioactivity of essential oils and their volatile aroma components: review. Journal of Essential Oil Research 24, 2, 203-212.

It is active against Candida

Silva, B., Guterres, S.S., Weisheimer, V. and Schapoval, E.E. (2008) Antifungal activity of the lemongrass oil and citral against Candida spp. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 12, 63-66.

Antifungal: Citral has antifungal activity

Tao, N., OuYang, O. and Jia, L. (2014) Citral inhibits mycelial growth of Penicillium italicum by a membrane damage mechanism. Food Control 41, 116-121.

Antidepressant: Citral has relaxing and antidepressant properties

Yim, V.W.C., NG, A.K.Y., Tsang, H.W.H. and Leung, A.Y. (2009) A review on the effects of aromatherapy for patients with depressive symptoms. The Journal of Alternative and Complementarity Medicine 15, 2, 187-195.