The Therapeutic Effects of M. officinalis on Lowering Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Adults

by | Mar 25, 2022 | 2021, Blood Pressure, Botanicals, Cardiovascular Health

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer . Results of the study show that a 2-month supplementation of M. officinalis significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure in participants with hypertension.

blood pressure cuffHypertension, also called high blood pressure, is the most prominent chronic disease and the leading cause of disability in the world 1. It is also the main contributing factor for all-cause mortality and affects nearly 1.4 billion adults globally 2. Hypertension occurs when the body’s smaller blood vessels narrow, causing the blood to apply excessive pressure against the vessel walls, forcing the heart to beat harder to maintain adequate pressure 3. Blood pressure measurements that constitute hypertension are a systolic pressure 130 or higher with a diastolic pressure of 90 or above 4.

Melissa officinalis L (Lamiaceae), also known as lemon balm, is a perennial herb that has been used for over 2,000 years for its medicinal properties 5. The leaves of the lemon balm contain the following compounds: polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins 6. The therapeutic effects of lemon balm, such as high levels of phenolic content, have been studied for its ability to lower lipid levels. In particular, the presence of quercetin found in the herb exhibits health benefits such as inhibition of LDL oxidation and the reduction of inflammatory markers 7. To better understand the potential use of Melissa officinalis L (Lamiaceae) for its therapeutic properties of hypertension, Shekarriz et al. conducted a study to explore the possible association.

In this randomized double-blind crossover trial, 49 participants (age range of 35-73 years, 70.38% female subjects) with preexisting hypertension were allocated to two groups for this two-phase trial. Participants of the trial could continue use of anti-hypertensive medication throughout the study. During the first phase (4 weeks), subjects in group A (n=23) received M. officinalis capsules (400 mg), while participants in group B (n=26) received placebo capsules. Both groups took the capsules 3 times a day, after a meal. After the completion of the first phase, all subjects experienced a two-week washout period where they only continued taking their prior medication. After the washout period ended, subjects in group A received placebo capsules for four weeks, while group B were given M. officinalis capsules. Blood pressure measurements were taken at the beginning of the study and then every two weeks. After the completion of the trial, the results were as follows:

  • The mean and SD of systolic blood pressure reduction in group A was 13.39 ± 8.67 mmHg and in group B it was 13.53 ± 11.52 mmHg (p=.96).
  • Additionally, the mean and SD of diastolic blood pressure reduction in group A was 8.5 ± 13.98 mmHg and for group B it was 8.84 ± 1.84 mmHg (p=.78).
  • At the beginning of the study, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in group A were 152.30 ± 5.312 mmHg and 95.52 ± 1.988 mmHg and after the first phase they reached 129.88 ± 9.009 mmHg and 80.13 ± 5.488 mmHg.
  • At the beginning of the study, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in group B were 152.26 ± 5.640 mmHg and 94.44 ± 2.607 mmHg and after the second phase they reached 131.77 ± 8.091 mmHg and 81.46 ± 7.426 mmHg (p=.005).
  • The paired t-test showed that supplementation with officinalis significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in both groups compared to placebo (p=.005).

Based on the results, supplementation with M. officinalis significantly reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of subjects with hypertension. Further research should explore the therapeutic use of M. officinalis as an herbal treatment to better stabilize higher levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Limitations of the study include the small sample size and the short duration of the study. Future studies should include a larger and more robust sample size and occur over a longer study period to better comprehend the effects of M. officinalis on blood pressure.

Source: Shekarriz, Zahra, Seyed Afshin Shorofi, Maryam Nabati, Bizhan Shabankhani, and Seyde Sedighe Yousefi. “Effect of Melissa officinalis on systolic and diastolic blood pressures in essential hypertension: A double‐blind crossover clinical trial.” Phytotherapy Research 35, no. 12 (2021): 6883-6892.

© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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Posted March 25, 2022.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

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