ABSTRACT
Traditional medicinal plants provide health care for nearly 80% of the world’s population. Melissa officinalis L. is an aromatic, herbaceous, perennial plant, commonly known as lemon balm. It gives off a lemon-scented aroma that attracts cats; hence, in the Unani system of medicine, it is known as “Billilotan.” This species of the genus Melissa is cultivated globally, and is rich in essential oils, especially in rosmarinic acid, citral, and citronellal. It has been used for treating different ailments since antiquity, including mental disorders and scorpion and spider bites. Due to its abundant occurrence in the Mediterranean region, the aromatic oil from lemon balm is produced on a large scale, making it a profitable source of income. A number of scientific studies carried out recently have isolated bioactive metabolites from this herb that have been proven to have different pharmacological activities, such as antimicrobial, antidepressant, anticancer, anti-arrhythmic, and antidiabetic activities.
