Genotoxic/antigenotoxic evaluation of Melissa oficinallis

Considering that diet has a major influence on the promotion and progression of cancer and that mutations are key elements in neoplastic processes there is growing interest in the study of compounds with antigenotoxic and antimutagenic properties from plant extracts. Melissa officinalis L. popularly known in Brazil as lemon balm or melissa is traditionally used as an aqueous or alcoholic extract for the treatment of fevers colds indigestion associated with nervous tension hyperthyroidism depression mild insomnia epilepsy headaches toothaches among others. However there is no information on this plant in relation to protective or toxicogenic effects. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the antimutagenicity/antigenotoxicity and mutagenicity/genotoxicity of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of this plant.