Abstract: | Melissa officinalis L. is a herbaceous, perennial plant of the Lamiaceae family, a native of the northern Mediterranean region. It is a xeromesophitic, moderate thermophile plant that is spread in sunny and also in shady places, and it is resistant to drought. It is sensitive to low temperatures, requiring mild winters. Its development is favourable on argillaceous earth and also on sandy, loamy ground. On vegetable soil its content of essential oils is lower. The aerial part of plant comprises 0.05 to 0.15% of volatile oil (that contains citronellal, citral, geraniol, linalool), polyphenols, tannins (3 to 6%), mucilages (12%), bitter substances etc. The seeds contain fat oil made up of linolenic, linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids (1-3, 5-8,10). The main action of its active principles, especially of volatile oil of Melissa officinalis is spasmolitic and sedative, recommended for gastro - intestinal spasms and cardiac neurosis. They are also known for an antiseptic, sedative, carminative, choleretic, mild laxative, stomachic, cicatrisant, galactagogue, and insecticide action. Our complex research on the in vitro regenerants of Melissa officinalis L. comprised biometrical tests, as well. There were analyzed some growth parameters, immediately after the regenerants were transferred from the in vitro to the ex vitro environment. There were analyzed 30 plants/medium variant within three tests: I – plants aged 30 days; II – plants aged 50 days; III - plants aged 60 days. The investigated parameters were: root length, stem length, number of shoots growing from basal node, number of nodes/shoot, fresh biomass/plant. The regenerants were transferred in field in spring, harvested in early September. At the harvesting moment, some parameters were analyzed: stem length, number o branches/stem, number of nodes/stem, fresh biomass/plant. All the data were statistically processed and interpreted. |
