Evaluation of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) Effects on Heart Electrical System - PubMed (original) (raw)

Evaluation of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) Effects on Heart Electrical System

Siyavash Joukar et al. Res Cardiovasc Med. 2015.

Abstract

Background: Melissa officinalis, an herbal drug, is well known and frequently applied in traditional and modern medicine. Yet, there is inadequate information regarding its effects on electrical properties of the heart. The present study attempted to elucidate the effects of Melissa officinalis aqueous extract on electrocardiogram (ECG) in rat.

Objectives: ECG is an easy, fast and valuable tool to evaluate the safety of used materials and drugs on heart electrical and conductivity properties. Many drugs with no cardiovascular indication or any overt cardiovascular effects of therapeutic dosing become cardiotoxic when overdosed (16). On the other hand, there are numerous substances and drugs that can cause ECG changes, even in patients without a history of cardiac disease. Therefore, this study was conducted to elucidate safety and outcome of one-week administration of M. officinalis aqueous extract on blood pressure and ECG parameters of rats.

Materials and methods: Four animal groups received tap water (control group), aqueous extracts of Melissa officinalis 50 (M50), 100 (M100) and 200 (M200) mg/kg/day, respectively and orally for a week. ECG and blood pressure were recorded on the eighth day of experiment.

Results: Consumption of Melissa officinalis extract associated with prolonged QRS interval (P < 0.05 for M50 and M100 groups and P < 0.01 for M200 group versus the control group, respectively), prolonged QTc and JT intervals (P < 0.01 for different M groups versus the control group) and prolonged TpTe interval (P < 0.001 when M groups compared with the control group) of ECG. However, different doses of the extract had no significant effect on RR interval, PR interval, amplitudes of ECG waves, heart rate and blood pressure.

Conclusions: For the first time, this study revealed that consumption of Melissa officinalis extract is associated with significant ECG alterations in rat. Future studies are necessary to determine potential clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Blood Pressure; Electrocardiography; Melissa officinalis.

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Figures

Figure 1.

Figure 1.. The Strips of Arterial Blood Pressure and Lead II of ECG Simultaneously Recorded From an Animal in Each Group

CTL: the control group, M50: animal group which received 50 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M100: animal group which received 100 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M200: animal group which received 200 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract.

Figure 2.

Figure 2.. QRS Interval in All Groups

Values are expressed in Mean ± SD, CTL: the control group, M50: animal group which received 50 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M100: animal group which received 100 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M200: animal group which received 200 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract. n = 8, * P < 0.05 and ** P < 0.01 vs. CTL group.

Figure 3.

Figure 3.. Corrected QT Interval Measured Using the Bazett’s Formula Normalized in Animals Groups

Values are expressed in Mean ± SD, CTL: the control group, M50: animal group which received 50 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M100: animal group which received 100 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M200: animal group which received 200 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract. n = 8, ** P < 0.01 vs. CTL group.

Figure 4.

Figure 4.. JT Interval in Animals Groups

Values are expressed in Mean ± SD, CTL: the control group, M50: animal group which received 50 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M100: animal group which received 100 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M200: animal group which received 200 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract. n = 8, ** P < 0.01 vs CTL group.

Figure 5.

Figure 5.. TpTe Interval in All Groups

Values are expressed in Mean ± SD, CTL, the control group; M50: animal group which received 50 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M100: animal group which received 100 mg/kg/day of M.officinalis extract, M200: animal group which received 200 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract. n = 8. ● P < 0.001 vs. CTL group.

Figure 6.

Figure 6.. Arterial Blood Pressure in Different Experimental Groups

Values are Mean ± SD. CTL, the control group; M50: animal group which received 50 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M100: animal group which received 100 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract, M200: animal group which received 200 mg/kg/day of M. officinalis extract. n = 8.

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