Basal and Spasmolytic Effects of a Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract of Melissa officinalis L. on Intestinal Motility: An Ex Vivo Study

Effects of a traditional herbal formula containing Melissa officinalis, Pimpinella anisum, and Rosa damascena on anxiety and depression in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C): A double-blind randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a traditional Persian herbal formula containing Melissa officinalis, Pimpinella anisum, and Rosa damascena (MPR) on anxiety and depression in IBS patients with symptoms of constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C).

METHODS

This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted in Afzalipour Hospital via block randomization method. A total of 96 IBS-C patients (based on Rome IV criteria), aged 18-60 years, were included in this study. Participants received capsules containing either 500 mg of herbal formula or placebo (cornstarch) twice a day for four weeks Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

RESULTS

Forty-three patients in the intervention group and 45 patients in the control group completed this study. Except for the education level, there were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). The mean levels of anxiety and depression, and total IBS symptom severity score showed no significant differences between the two groups at baseline (P > 0.05). After four weeks of treatment, the anxiety score considerably improvement in the treatment group (Cohen's d = -1.19, 95 % confidence intervals [CIs] -4.49 to 2.13), as did the depression score (Cohen's d = -1.93, 95 % CIs -4.32 to 2.79).

CONCLUSION

MPR considerably improved anxiety and depression in patients with IBS-C compared to the placebo without serious side effects.

Modulation of chicken gut contractility by Melissa officinalis-ex vivo study

Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) has a long history of being used in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders in human thanks to its spasmolytic and stress reducing effects. These pharmacological properties have been confirmed in laboratory animals. Unfortunately, in the case of veterinary medicine, the effect of lemon balm on gut contractility has been never subjected to a detailed investigation. On the other hand, there is urgent need of new drugs that could be safely used in animals for both, causative and symptomatic treatment. In broiler chicken, one of the major health concerns includes gastrointestinal disorders with gut hypermotility. Thus, it is crucial to verify the potential utility of Melissa officinalis extract in gastrointestinal dysmotilities. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of lemon balm extract and some of its active ingredients on chicken intestine motility. The study was performed on isolated proximal and distal jejunum preparations collected from broiler chicken which underwent routine slaughter procedure. The effect of lemon balm and 3 phenolic acids (rosmarinic, chlorogenic, and lithospermic) was verified under isometric conditions, toward spontaneous and acetylcholine (ACh)-induced smooth muscle activity. Surprisingly, M. officinalis turned out to be rather a myocontractile agent as it increased ACh-provoked contractility of proximal and distal jejunum strips and also intensified the spontaneous activity of distal jejunum. Only in the case of proximal intestine lemon balm extract diminished the force of spontaneous motoric activity up to approx. Sixty-seven percent of the control conditions. None of the tested phenolic acids displayed analog effect with the whole plant extract. In fact in the case of ACh-induced contractility, the acids had the opposite, that is, myorelaxant, effect than the extract, with a small exception of lithospermic acid in distal jejunum. Thus, it is impossible to assign one or more individual constituents to the effect of the whole Melissa officinalis extract. The obtained results do not support the use of lemon balm extract in broiler diseases which are accompanied by gut motility disturbances, including diarrhea.

Remnants from the Past: From an 18th Century Manuscript to 21st Century Ethnobotany in Valle Imagna (Bergamo, Italy)

BACKGROUND

This project originated from the study of an 18th century manuscript found in Valle Imagna (Bergamo, Italy) which contains 200 plant-based medicinal remedies. A first comparison with published books concerning 20th century folk medicine in the Valley led to the designing of an ethnobotanical investigation, aimed at making a thorough comparison between past and current phytotherapy knowledge in this territory.

METHODS

The field investigation was conducted through semi-structured interviews. All data collected was entered in a database and subsequently processed. A diachronic comparison between the field results, the manuscript, and a 20th century book was then performed.

RESULTS

A total of 109 interviews were conducted and the use of 103 medicinal plants, belonging to 46 families, was noted. A decrease in number of plant taxa and uses was observed over time, with only 42 taxa and 34 uses reported in the manuscript being currently known by the people of the valley. A thorough comparison with the remedies in the manuscript highlighted similar recipes for 12 species. Specifically, the use of agrimony in Valle Imagna for the treatment of deep wounds calls back to an ancient remedy against leg ulcers based on this species.

CONCLUSIONS

The preliminary results of this study allow us to outline the partial passage through time fragments of ancient plant-based remedies once used in the investigated area.

A Perspective on Missing Aspects in Ongoing Purification Research towards Melissa officinalis

Melissa officinalis L. is a medicinal plant used worldwide for ethno-medical purposes. Today, it is grown everywhere; while it is known to originate from Southern Europe, it is now found around the world, from North America to New Zealand. The biological properties of this medicinal plant are mainly related to its high content of phytochemical (bioactive) compounds, such as flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, aldehydes, glycosides and terpenes, among many other groups of substances. Among the main biological activities associated with this plant are antimicrobial activity (against fungi and bacteria), and antispasmodic, antioxidant and insomnia properties. Today, this plant is still used by society (as a natural medicine) to alleviate many other illnesses and symptoms. Therefore, in this perspective, we provide an update on the phytochemical profiling analysis of this plant, as well as the relationships of specific biological and pharmacological effects of specific phytochemicals. Currently, among the organic solvents, ethanol reveals the highest effectiveness for the solvent extraction of precious components (mainly rosmarinic acid). Additionally, our attention is devoted to current developments in the extraction and fractionation of the phytochemicals of M. officinalis, highlighting the ongoing progress of the main strategies that the research community has employed. Finally, after analyzing the literature, we suggest potential perspectives in the field of sustainable extraction and purification of the phytochemical present in the plant. For instance, some research gaps concern the application of cavitation-assisted extraction processes, which can effectively enhance mass transfer while reducing the particle size of the extracted material in situ. Meanwhile, membrane-assisted processes could be useful in the fractionation and purification of obtained extracts. On the other hand, further studies should include the application of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents (DES), including DESs of natural origin (NADES) and hydrophobic DESs (hDES), as extraction or fractionating solvents, along with new possibilities for effective extraction related to DESs formed in situ, assisted by mechanical mixing (mechanochemistry-based approach).

Psychological stress induces an increase in cholinergic enteric neuromuscular pathways mediated by glucocorticoid receptors

Introduction

Repeated acute stress (RASt) is known to be associated with gastrointestinal dysfunctions. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have not yet been fully understood. While glucocorticoids are clearly identified as stress hormones, their involvement in RASt-induced gut dysfunctions remains unclear, as does the function of glucocorticoid receptors (GR). The aim of our study was to evaluate the involvement of GR on RASt-induced changes in gut motility, particularly through the enteric nervous system (ENS).

Methods

Using a murine water avoidance stress (WAS) model, we characterized the impact of RASt upon the ENS phenotype and colonic motility. We then evaluated the expression of glucocorticoid receptors in the ENS and their functional impact upon RASt-induced changes in ENS phenotype and motor response.

Results

We showed that GR were expressed in myenteric neurons in the distal colon under basal conditions, and that RASt enhanced their nuclear translocation. RASt increased the proportion of ChAT-immunoreactive neurons, the tissue concentration of acetylcholine and enhanced cholinergic neuromuscular transmission as compared to controls. Finally, we showed that a GR-specific antagonist (CORT108297) prevented the increase of acetylcholine colonic tissue level and in vivo colonic motility.

Discussion

Our study suggests that RASt-induced functional changes in motility are, at least partly, due to a GR-dependent enhanced cholinergic component in the ENS.

Melissa officinalis: Composition, Pharmacological Effects and Derived Release Systems-A Review

Melissa officinalis is a medicinal plant rich in biologically active compounds which is used worldwide for its therapeutic effects. Chemical studies on its composition have shown that it contains mainly flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and essential oil. The main active constituents of Melissa officinalis are volatile compounds (geranial, neral, citronellal and geraniol), triterpenes (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid), phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid), and flavonoids (quercetin, rhamnocitrin, and luteolin). According to the biological studies, the essential oil and extracts of Melissa officinalis have active compounds that determine many pharmacological effects with potential medical uses. A new field of research has led to the development of controlled release systems with active substances from plants. Therefore, the essential oil or extract of Melissa officinalis has become a major target to be incorporated into various controlled release systems which allow a sustained delivery.

Phytochemical Constituents, Biological Activities, and Health-Promoting Effects of the Melissa officinalis

Medicinal plants are being used worldwide for centuries for their beneficial properties. Some of the most popular medicinal plants belong to the Melissa genus, and different health beneficial effects have already been identified for this genus. Among these species, in particular, the Melissa officinalis L. has been reported as having many biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumour, antiviral, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, and also flatulence inhibiting effects. The beneficial properties of the Melissa officinalis, also known as “lemon balm herb”, can be related to the bioactive compounds such as terpenoids, alcohols, rosmarinic acid, and phenolic antioxidants which are present in the plant. In this updated review, the botanical, geographical, nutritional, phytochemical, and traditional medical aspects of M. officinalis have been considered as well as in vitro and in vivo and clinically proven therapeutic properties have been reviewed with a special focus on health-promoting effects and possible perspective nutraceutical applications. To evidence the relevance of this plant in the research and completely assess the context, a literature quantitative research analysis has been performed indicating the great interest towards this plant for its beneficial properties.

Ca' Granda, Hortus simplicium: Restoring an Ancient Medicinal Garden of XV-XIX Century in Milan (Italy)

This work is based on the study of 150 majolica vases dated back to the mid XVII century that once preserved medicinal remedies prepared in the ancient Pharmacy annexed to the Ospedale Maggiore Ca' Granda in Milan (Lombardy, Italy). The Hortus simplicium was created in 1641 as a source of plant-based ingredients for those remedies. The main objective of the present work is to lay the knowledge base for the restoration of the ancient Garden for educational and informative purposes. Therefore, the following complementary phases were carried out: (i) the analysis of the inscriptions on the jars, along with the survey on historical medical texts, allowing for the positive identification of the plant ingredients of the remedies and their ancient use as medicines; (ii) the bibliographic research in modern pharmacological literature in order to validate or refute the historical uses; (iii) the realization of the checklist of plants potentially present in cultivation at the ancient Garden, concurrently with the comparison with the results of a previous in situ archaeobotanical study concerning pollen grains. For the species selection, considerations were made also regarding drug amounts in the remedies and pedoclimatic conditions of the study area. Out of the 150 vases, 108 contained plant-based remedies, corresponding to 148 taxa. The remedies mainly treated gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. At least one of the medicinal uses was validated in scientific literature for 112 out of the 148 examined species. Finally, a checklist of 40 taxa, presumably hosted in the Hortus simplicium, was assembled.

Melissa officinalis L. Aqueous Extract Exerts Antioxidant and Antiangiogenic Effects and Improves Physiological Skin Parameters

Melissa officinalis (MO) is a medicinal plant well-known for its multiple pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer and beneficial effects on skin recovery. In this context, the present study was aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo safety profile of an MO aqueous extract by assessing cell viability on normal (HaCaT-human keratinocytes) and tumor (A375-human melanoma) cells and its impact on physiological skin parameters by a non-invasive method. In addition, the antioxidant activity and the antiangiogenic potential of the extract were verified. A selective cytotoxic effect was noted in A375 cells, while no toxicity was noticed in healthy cells. The MO aqueous extract safety profile after topical application was investigated on SKH-1 mice, and an enhanced skin hydration and decreased erythema and transepidermal water loss levels were observed. The in ovo CAM assay, performed to investigate the potential modulating effect on the angiogenesis process and the blood vessels impact, indicated that at concentrations of 100 and 500 µg/mL, MO aqueous extract induced a reduction of thin capillaries. No signs of vascular toxicity were recorded at concentrations as high as 1000 μg/mL. The aqueous extract of MO leaves can be considered a promising candidate for skin disorders with impaired physiological skin parameters.

Research progress regarding potential effects of traditional Chinese medicine on postoperative intestinal obstruction

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative intestinal obstruction is a common postoperative complication with typical symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension and constipation. The principal aim of this paper is to provide a full-scale review on the categories and characteristics of postoperative intestinal obstruction, pathophysiology, effects and detailed mechanisms of compounds and monomers from traditional Chinese medicine for treating postoperative intestinal obstruction. Moreover, the possible development and perspectives for future research are also analyzed.

METHODS

Literature regarding postoperative intestinal obstruction as well as the anti-pio effect of aqueous extracts and monomers from traditional Chinese medicine in the last 20 years was summarized.

KEY FINDINGS

To date, approximately 30 compounds and 25 monomers isolated from traditional Chinese medicine including terpenes, alkaloids, polysaccharides, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and quinones, have exerted significant antipio effect. This paper reviews the effective doses, models, detailed mechanisms, and composition of these traditional Chinese medicine compounds, as well as the structure of these monomers. Moreover, challenges existed in the current investigation and further perspectives were discussed as well, hoping to provide a reference for future clinical treatment of postoperative intestinal obstruction and the development of new drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Above all, the convincing evidence from modern pharmacology studies powerfully supported the great potential of traditional Chinese medicine in the management of postoperative intestinal obstruction. Regrettably, less attention was currently paid on the mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine compounds and monomers with antipio effect. Consequently, future study should focus on monomer-mechanism and structure-function relationship.

Pharmacological Effects of Agastache rugosa against Gastritis Using a Network Pharmacology Approach

Agastache rugosa is used as a Korean traditional medicine to treat gastric diseases. However, the active ingredients and pharmacological targets of A. rugosa are unknown. In this study, we aimed to reveal the pharmacological effects of A. rugosa on gastritis by combining a mice model and a network pharmacology method. The macrophage and gastritis-induced models were used to evaluate the pharmacological effects of A. rugosa. The results show that A. rugosa relieved mucosal damage induced by HCl/EtOH in vivo. Network analysis identified 99 components in A. rugosa; six components were selected through systematic screening, and five components were linked to 45 gastritis-related genes. The main components were acacetin and luteolin, and the identified core genes were AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor alpha (NFKBIA), and mitogen-activated protein kinase-3 (MAPK3) etc. in this network. The network of components, target genes, protein–protein interactions, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was closely connected with chemokines and with phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt (PI3K/AKT), tumor-necrosis-factor alpha (TNFα), mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa B, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. In conclusion, A. rugosa exerts gastro-protective effects through a multi-compound and multi-pathway regulatory network and holds potential for treating inflammatory gastric diseases.

De la plante aux effets biologiques de l’extrait : quand la démarche scientifique éclaire les usages

L’intérêt porté aux plantes médicinales a considérablement été renouvelé ces dernières années. Cependant, les données fiables sur les extraits de plantes commercialisés sont souvent inexistantes. Une partie du savoir-faire industriel du groupe PiLeJe est axé sur la production d’extraits de plantes dont le profil phytochimique est proche de celui dutotum. Le laboratoire s’efforce d’apporter des preuves scientifiques sur la qualité, l’usage et l’intérêt des extraits de plantes produits. Cela nécessite de recourir à des procédés industriels adaptés, permettant d’extraire et de restituer intacte la majorité des composants de la plante et d’améliorer de façon continue la filière et la production des extraits. De nombreux efforts sont également fournis pour standardiser et caractériser chaque extrait de plante produit et associer au profil phytochimique établi des propriétés et des effets biologiques.