Planta Med 2008; 74 - PC139
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084657

Compositional analysis and acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitory screening of Melissa officinalis

K Dastmalchi 1, V Ollilainen 2, HJD Dorman 1, PO Oinonen 1, 2, I Laakso 1, R Hiltunen 1
  • 1Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5E, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
  • 2Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

The plant Melissa officinalis (L.) has been used traditionally in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction. Based on its traditional medicinal use, Akhondzadeh et al. assessed the clinical efficacy of the plant in mild to moderate Alzheimer's patients [1]. The plant was effective in the management of the disease. Therefore based on this study we prepared a similar plant extract using the same solvent (45% v/v ethanol) and plant material. The use of antioxidants and acetyl-cholinesterase compounds are among the major pharmacological approaches in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease [2]. Therefore our attempt was to investigate the antioxidant and acetyl-cholinesterase activities of the plant extract. As we had already demonstrated the extract was active in a battery of antioxidant assays [3], the next step was to screen the extract for acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitory activity. The extract was assayed based on Oinonen et al. method [4]. The extract was capable of inhibiting the enzyme activity in a dose dependent manner. The activity of the extract was moderate compared to that of positive control physostigmine.

Chemical composition of the extract was analysed using LC-DAD-ESI/MS method. The extract contained derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids. The compounds eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside, naringenin-7-O-glucoside, luteoline-7-O-glucoside, hyperoside, rosmarinic acid, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside were confirmed by comparing their chromatographic behaviour and spectral data with that of authentic standards under identical analytical conditions. Another component of the extract has only been tentatively identified as luteoline-O-glucuronide based on its spectral characteristics, therefore there is a need for more studies to be carried out.

Acknowledgements: Yliopiston Apteeki; Finland, Institute of Medicinal Plants; Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research; Iran.

References: 1. Akhondzadeh, S. et al. (2003)J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 74: 863–866. 2. Dastmalchi, K. et al. (2007) Int. J. Biomed. Pharm. Sci. 1: 83–104. 3. Dastmalchi, K. et al. (2006) Planta Medica 27: 1021, P131. 4. Oinonen, P.O. et al. (2006) Fitoterapia 77:429–434.