Lemon Balm Research
40 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 8.5/10
Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions in Milder Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Urata M et al. • Neuropsychopharmacology reports (2025)
This review demonstrates that certain supplements, such as eicosapentaenoic acids and Rhodiola rosea, are therapeutic options for mild depression.
- A meta-analysis found no significant difference in response rates between the two treatments (risk ratio [RR] = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.78-1.18) or dropout rates (RR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.62-1.88).
- Eicosapentaenoic acid and Rhodiola rosea demonstrated significant improvements in depressive symptoms compared to placebo.
- Conversely, S-adenosylmethionine did not produce significant improvements relative to placebo.
Herbal Medicine for Treating Herpes Labialis: A Systematic Review
Anheyer M et al. • Journal of integrative and complementary medicine (2025)
Future well-designed, large-scale RCTs employing standardized methodologies are necessary to confirm these findings and to establish optimal treatment protocols for diverse patient populations (Inplasy protocol number: 202350038).
- Lemon balm preparations consistently reduced pain intensity and swelling, with some studies also reporting a significant decrease in lesion size compared with placebo or acyclovir.
- Olive leaf extract demonstrated a statistically significant faster improvement in symptoms and a shorter healing time compared with acyclovir.
- Discussion: The findings indicate that topical herbal therapies may provide effective and well-tolerated alternatives or adjuncts to conventional antiviral treatments for herpes labialis.
Bioactive Compounds Effective Against Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review
Egbuna C et al. • Current topics in medicinal chemistry (2021)
John's wort, green beans, cucumber, spinach, tea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Aloe vera, Moringa oleifera, tomatoes, potatoes, oregano, lemon balm, thyme, peppermint, Ocimum basilicum, red cabbage, pears, olive oil and walnut.
- Systematic review examining Ginkgo Biloba efficacy
- Published in Current topics in medicinal chemistry (2021)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Effects of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) consumption on serum lipid profile: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Shahsavari K et al. • BMC complementary medicine and therapies (2024)
The findings of this meta-analysis provide evidence that lemon balm may be administered as a safe and beneficial herbal medicine for reducing TC, TG and LDL levels.
- While it had no statistically significant effect on HDL level (SMD (95% CI): 0.336(-0.091, 0.767), p-value = 0.123).
- The findings of this meta-analysis provide evidence that lemon balm may be administered as a safe and beneficial herbal medicine for reducing TC, TG and LDL levels.
- According to the pooled results of 5 studies with a total of 302 patients, lemon balm intake had no significant effect on HDL level.
Treatment of post-burn pruritus - A systematic review and meta-analysis
Andrade LF et al. • Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries (2024)
Current evidence suggests that current modalities have a statistically significant, but not clinically significant, reduction in pruritus.
- Current evidence suggests that current modalities have a statistically significant, but not clinically significant, reduction in pruritus.
- This review highlights the limited quality of evidence in the literature and the poor quality of reporting among excluded studies.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Aromatherapy for dementia
Ball EL et al. • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2020)
We have not found any convincing evidence that aromatherapy (or exposure to fragrant plant oils) is beneficial for people with dementia although there are many limitations to the data.
- We have not found any convincing evidence that aromatherapy (or exposure to fragrant plant oils) is beneficial for people with dementia although there are many limitations to the data.
- Conduct or reporting problems in half of the included studies meant that they could not contribute to the conclusions.
- Results from the other studies were inconsistent.
Interventions for postburn pruritus
Sinha S et al. • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2024)
There is moderate to low-certainty evidence on the effects of 21 interventions.
- Due to very low-certainty evidence, it is uncertain whether doxepin cream impacts the incidence of somnolence as an adverse event compared to oral antihistamine (risk ratio (RR) 0.64, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.25; 1 study, 24 participants).
- There is low-certainty evidence that gabapentin may reduce burn-related pruritus compared with cetirizine (MD -2.40 VAS, 95% CI -4.14 to -0.66; 1 study, 40 participants).
- There is low-certainty evidence that gabapentin reduces the incidence of somnolence compared to cetirizine (RR 0.02, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.38; 1 study, 40 participants).
Herbal Remedies and Their Possible Effect on the GABAergic System and Sleep
Bruni O et al. • Nutrients (2021)
Currently available evidence suggests that herbal extracts may exert some of their hypnotic and anxiolytic activity through interacting with GABA receptors and modulating GABAergic signaling in the brain, but their mechanism of action in the treatment of insomnia is not completely understood.
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays a major role in controlling different vigilance states.
- GABA receptors are the targets of many pharmacological treatments for insomnia, such as benzodiazepines.
- Here, we perform a systematic analysis of studies assessing the mechanisms of action of various herbal medicines on different subtypes of GABA receptors in the context of sleep control.
The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Ghazizadeh J et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2021)
Further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the lemon balm.© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- 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.
GABA-modulating phytomedicines for anxiety: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence
Savage K et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018)
Collectively, the literature reveals preclinical and clinical evidence for various phytomedicines modulating GABA-pathways, with comparative anxiolytic effect to the current array of pharmaceuticals, along with good safety and tolerability profiles.Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- An open-ended search to 5 July 2017 was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and Cochrane library online databases and performed in a stepped format from preclinical to clinical investigations.
- Eligible studies must have had (a) in vitro evidence of GABA-modulating activity, (b) animal studies using anxiety models to test an anxiolytic effect, and (c) human clinical trials.
- Ten phytomedicines were identified as having preclinical investigations showing interaction with the GABA system, in addition to human clinical trials: kava, valerian, pennywort, hops, chamomile, Ginkgo biloba, passionflower, ashwagandha, skullcap, and lemon balm.
Effects of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) on cardio-metabolic outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Heshmati J et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2020)
High-quality RCTs are needed for firm conclusions concerning the effects of MO on cardiometabolic outcomes.© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Random-effects meta-analyses estimated the pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) between intervention and control groups.
- MO intake was associated with a reduced total cholesterol (TC) (SMD: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.01; I2 = 13.7%; k = 6) and a reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) (SMD: -0.56; 95% CI: -0.85, -0.27; I2 = 00.0%; k = 3).
- MO intake was not associated with statistically significant changes in triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, diastolic blood pressure, high sensitivity c-reactive protein levels, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, insulin or high-density lipoprotein levels.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.): an evidence-based systematic review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration
Ulbricht C et al. • Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy (2005)
An evidence-based systematic review including written and statistical analysis of scientific analysis of scientific literature, expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetic/dynamics, interactions, adverse effect, toxicology, and dosing.
- An evidence-based systematic review including written and statistical analysis of scientific analysis of scientific literature, expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetic/dynamics, interactions, adverse effect, toxicology, and dosing.
- Published in Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy (2005)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
The effects of melissa officinalis on depression and anxiety in type 2 diabetes patients with depression: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial
Safari M et al. • BMC complementary medicine and therapies (2023)
The study was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT201709239472N16); Registration date: 09/10/2017.
- Clinical trial examining Lemon Balm efficacy
- Published in BMC complementary medicine and therapies (2023)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Effect of Melissa officinalis on systolic and diastolic blood pressures in essential hypertension: A double-blind crossover clinical trial
Shekarriz Z et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2021)
According to the results, M. officinalis can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the patients with essential hypertension.© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Moreover, it was found that systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly decreased after the consumption of M. officinalis, compared to placebo.
- Also, no significant side effects were observed during the study.
- According to the results, M. officinalis can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the patients with essential hypertension.© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Efficacy of Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) extract on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial
Asadi A et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2019)
It seems that M. officinalis is safe and effective in improvement of lipid profile, glycemic control, and reduction of inflammation.© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- In M. officinalis group, there was a significant change in HDL-c (P = 0.009) and QUICKI (P = 0.005) compared with baseline values.
- No adverse effects were observed.
- It seems that M. officinalis is safe and effective in improvement of lipid profile, glycemic control, and reduction of inflammation.© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effectiveness of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil inhalation on anxiety and symptom burden of hemodialysis patients: a randomized trial study
Pasyar N et al. • BMC complementary medicine and therapies (2025)
Melissa officinalis L. essential oil inhalation aromatherapy reduced the symptoms burden and anxiety in hemodialysis patients.
- Melissa officinalis L. essential oil inhalation aromatherapy reduced the symptoms burden and anxiety in hemodialysis patients.
- Given the effectiveness of aromatherapy in hemodialysis patients, it is suggested that healthcare workers should use this complementary and integrative health to reduce the anxiety and symptoms burden in hemodialysis patients.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) Leaf Extract Promotes Endo180 Production in Dermal Fibroblasts and has Antiwrinkle Effect on Human Skin
Iwahashi H et al. • Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine (2025)
MOLE may act as an antiwrinkle agent that inhibits the decline in collagen levels by promoting Endo180 production.
- Screening results showed that 50 μg/mL of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) leaf extract (MOLE) resulted in the highest levels of both Endo180 mRNA and protein at 178.1% and 127.4%, respectively.
- Its major component rosmarinic acid also promoted Endo180 production by 143.9% at a concentration of 20 μg/mL.
- MOLE may act as an antiwrinkle agent that inhibits the decline in collagen levels by promoting Endo180 production.
Effect of a nutraceutical combination on sleep quality among people with impaired sleep: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial
Gutiérrez-Romero SA et al. • Scientific reports (2024)
This rct examined the effects of Lemon Balm.
- Mean sleep efficiency remained unmodified in the active group, and increased by 3% in the placebo group, the between-group difference in the change was not statistically significant (p = 0.49).
- Time wake after sleep onset (WASO) decreased more in the active group (4.6% vs. 2.4%), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.33).
- Mean PSQI decreased by 3.11 points (32.3%) in the active group, and by 3.86 points (39.5%) in the placebo group (p = 0.41).
The Effectiveness of Melissa Officinalis L. versus Citalopram on Quality of Life of Menopausal Women with Sleep Disorder: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial
Shirazi M et al. • Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia (2021)
The results revealed that M.
- The mean for all MENQOL domain scores were significantly improved in the M.
- The results revealed that M.
- Officinalis L. may be recommended for improving the quality of life of menopausal women with sleep disturbance.
Heart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety
Alijaniha F et al. • Journal of ethnopharmacology (2015)
Lyophilized aqueous extract of M. officinalis leaves may be a proper and safe herbal drug for the treatment of benign palpitations.
- Results showed that 14-day of treatment with lyophilized aqueous extract of M. officinalis leaves reduced frequency of palpitation episodes and significantly reduced the number of anxious patients in comparison to the placebo (P=0.0001, P=0.004 resp.).
- Lyophilized aqueous extract of M. officinalis leaves may be a proper and safe herbal drug for the treatment of benign palpitations.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings