Resumo

SANCHEZ GOVIN, Ester et al. Pharmacognosy characterization of Melissa officinalis L.(toronjil). Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.4, pp.198-208. ISSN 1028-4796.

INTRODUCTION: Melissa officinalis L. known as toronjil in Cuba and in English speaking as lemon balm is very used due to its carminative, sedative, antibacterial and antiviral properties. OBJECTIVE: to conduct a pharmacognosy study of this plant of traditional use. METHODS: samples from sunlight and shadow partial farming were assessed, the different moments to harvest applying three types of drying. Numerical indexes ere determined according to the values obtained under the influence of assessed factors. RESULTS: the under sunlight, the harvest during April month and any of the study drying methods demonstrated the higher values to obtain an optimal quality drug. Also, a characterization of essential oil by gas chromatography attached to spectrophotometry was carried out as well as the follow-up of this metabolite by thin layer chromatography. CONCLUSIONS: the results obtained allowed us to collect the information necessary to establish the values for specifications of the vegetal drug quality.

Palavras-chave : Melissa officinalis; quality control; Pharmacognosy.

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