Lemon Verbena

Generic name: Aloysia Triphylla (L'Her.) Britt.
Brand names: Cedrón, Cidrao, Lemon Beebrush, Louisa, Salva-limao, Verveine Citronelle

Usage of Lemon Verbena

Antimicrobial activity

Animal and in vitro data

In vitro, alcoholic leaf extracts demonstrated antibiotic activity against EscheriChia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Staphylococcus aureus.Duke 2002, Ghaemi 2007

Insecticidal activity of lemon verbena essential oils has been described, suggesting potential applications for controlling head lice infestation and repelling mosquitoes (possibly due to the limonene content).Gillij 2008, Toloza 2010, Werdin González 2013 A 2% emulsion of the oil was reported to kill mites and aphids.Duke 2002

Antioxidant activity

Animal and experimental data

Experiments in rats and laboratory tests have demonstrated antioxidant activity of lemon verbena extracts.Bilia 2008, Lenoir 2012, Quirantes-Piné 2013 Antioxidant enzymes and blood indices have been measured, and protection against induced colon inflammation in rats was demonstrated with a lemon verbena infusion.Lenoir 2011, Portmann 2012 Experimental studies suggest that lemon verbena's antioxidant activity is similar to that of green tea.Abderrahim 2011

Clinical data

In healthy male volunteers (N=15), supplementation with a lemon verbena extract containing 10% verbascoside had a modest effect on cytokine response and exercise-induced oxidative damage of Neutrophils.Funes 2011 In a small, randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled clinical trial (N=9), C-reactive protein levels and markers of oxidative stress decreased in patients with certain forms of multiple sclerosis given a low-fat diet supplemented with lemon verbena extract; further studies are needed to cOnfirm results.Mauriz 2014

Muscle supplementation

Clinical data

In a small, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with parallel design, a dried extract of lemon verbena was safe and well tolerated, and effective in reducing muscle damage after exhaustive exercise. Active healthy males and females (N=44) 22 to 50 years of age were randomized to receive lemon verbena extract 400 mg once daily or placebo. After 15 days, participants in the lemon verbena group showed less muscle damage as well as faster and full recovery. This group also had significantly less exercise-related loss of muscle strength (P=0.0311) over all time points, improved glutathione peroxidase activity by trend (P=0.0681), and less movement-induced pain (P=0.0788) compared with the placebo group.Buchwald-Werner 2018

Soporific effects

Clinical data

In a parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (N=100), patients were randomized to receive A. citriodora extract (as syrup) (total essential oil content of 1.66 mg per 10 mL; total amount of flavonoid in terms of quercetin of 3.22 mg per 10 mL of the syrup) or placebo syrup. Patients were advised to use 10 mL of syrup 1 hour before bedtime for a period of 4 weeks, then fill out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaires. After 4 weeks of treatment, mean global PSQI scores (components include sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction, and subjective sleep quality) and ISI score improved significantly with A. citriodora compared with placebo (P<0.001). These results suggest that oral use of A. citriodora may be used as complementary treatment for insomnia.Afrasiabian 2019

Spasmolytic effects

Animal and in vitro data

Vitexin, a chemical constituent identified in an aqueous extract of cedrón, showed spasmolytic activity in isolated rat duodenum.Ragone 2007 Chinese investigators have reported antitussive activity of a component of the related plant Verbena officinalis.Gui 1985

Lemon Verbena side effects

Contact hypersensitivity has been associated with members of related species. Avoid in individuals with renal insufficiency because lemon verbena is excreted renally.Duke 2002, Felgines 2014

Before taking Lemon Verbena

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.Duke 2002

How to use Lemon Verbena

Clinical studies to substantiate the safety or efficacy of any lemon verbena dosing regimen are limited. Traditional dosing regimens include a 45 mL decoction taken several times per day.Duke 2002

Warnings

Lemon verbena is considered GRAS for human consumption and for use as a flavoring agent in alcoholic beverages. It is also used in herbal teas.Lemon-verbena 2014 In an evaluation of genotoxic biomarkers, extracts were not genotoxic to human blood.Portmann 2012

What other drugs will affect Lemon Verbena

None well documented. Apigenin, a chemical constituent of lemon verbena, is a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.Duke 2002

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