Evaluation of phytochemical, cytotoxic, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of of Melissa officinalis L. from Marivan region

Considering the adverse effects of synthetic antioxidants, antibiotics, and anti-cancer drugs on human health and increasing the antibiotic resistance of pathogens, it is a necessity to find safe alternative sources for these compounds. For this purpose, Melissa officinalis L. was collected from Marivan, Kurdestan province, and its chemical compositions and bioactivities were determined. Aerial parts of self-sowing M. officinalis were harvested during the flowering stage at 1320 meters above the sea level in 2016 summer. Using solvent-free microwave extraction methodessential oil of M. Officinalis was obtained and their component was identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity of the essential oil were determined via β–carotene bleaching assay and brine shrimp lethality test, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the essential oil was evaluated by agar well diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentrationdetermination against various types of standard and clinical microbial strains.Extraction yield of the essential oil was 1.18%, and the main componentswere geraniol (30.39%) and geranial (26.19%).Based on the results of β–carotene bleaching assay, inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation by the essential oil and BHT were 72.48% and 96.48%, respectively.Using the brine shrimp lethality test, LC50 of theessential oil and vincristine sulfate were obtained 62.76 μg/ml and 0.751 μg/ml, respectively.Thus, this study revealed that essential oil of M. officinalis had good antimicrobial activity against testedmicroorganisms, especially Gram-positive bacteria.In addition, it showed significant antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activities, so it seems that essential oil of M. officinalis may have potential use as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants, antibiotics and anticancer drugs.