Melissa parviflora Benth. A Review on its Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological profile

Melissa parviflora Benth. is an aromatic perennial herb of Lamiaceae family. It is one of the most influencial plant and used from centuries in Unani system of medicine for the treatment of various malady such as Epilepsy (mirgi), hemiplegia (falij), migraine (shaqeeqa), insomnia (sehar), indigestion (sue hazm) and palpitation (khafqaan) etc. The Persian physician Avicenna endorsed it for heart problems. It has antitubercular, antipyretic, analgesic and stomachic properties, also used to remove bad breath from mouth, strengthen the gums but its main action is as a tranquillizer and nervine relaxant, it is greatly esteemed for its calming properties. Preliminary performed phytochemical analysis revealed that tannin, flavonoid and saponins are the major components of the plant extract. The plants containing saponins or flavonoids exhibit anticonvulsant activity whereas the flavonoids show various biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic-antitumor etc. Keeping in view the tremendous medicinal importance of the plant Badranjboya in Unani Medicine, this review provides updated information on its phytochemistry, therapeutic uses and pharmacological properties.