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Effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) extract on germination and seedling growth of six plants

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Abstract

The n-hexane-, acetone- and water-soluble fractions obtained from an aqueous acetone extract of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) shoots inhibited the germination and the growth of roots and shoots of cockscomb (Amaranthus caudatus L.), cress (Lepidium sativum L.), crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). The inhibitory activity of the water-soluble fraction was the greatest, followed by that of acetone- and n-hexane-soluble fractions in all bioassays. The effectiveness of these fractions on the roots was greater than that of the shoots of the test plants. Significant reductions in the germination and growth of the roots and shoots were observed as the extract concentration increased. Such rate-dependent responses of the test plants to the fractions suggest that each fraction might contain allelochemical(s), but that the greatest potential was in the water-soluble fraction.

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Abbreviations

I25 :

doses required for 25% inhibition

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki, 761-0795, Kagawa, Japan

    Hisashi Kato-Noguchi

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  1. Hisashi Kato-Noguchi
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Kato-Noguchi, H. Effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) extract on germination and seedling growth of six plants. Acta Physiol Plant 23, 49–53 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-001-0022-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-001-0022-0

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