Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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ASSESSMENT OF THE ANTITUMOUR POTENTIAL OF MELISSA OFFICINALIS ETHANOLIC EXTRACT ON A375 MELANOMA CELLS: IN VITRO AND IN OVO APPROACHES

RAMONA ROMÂNU 1#, OANA ANDRADA IFTODE 2,3,4#, MIHAELA BOȚA 2,5*, IASMINA-ALEXANDRA PREDESCU 2,3,4, ALEX-ROBERT JÎJIE 2,3,4, LAVINIA VLAIA 2,5, DAN ILIESCU 6, CAMELIA TULCAN 1

1 University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I" from Timișoara, Calea Aradului No. 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania.
2 Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes,” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timisoara, Romania
3 Research Centre for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
4 Discipline of Toxicology, Drug Industry, Management and Legislation, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
5 Department II-Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
6 University Clinic of Surgical Semiology I and Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania

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Melissa officinalis (MO), a medicinal plant rich in bioactive phytocompounds, has shown promising antitumour properties in various experimental models. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and irritant potential of an ethanolic extract of MO leaves using in vitro and in ovo methods. The human melanoma cell line A375 was used to analyse cell viability, morphology, and signs of apoptosis after 24 hours of treatment with different extract concentrations. The results revealed a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect, with decreased cell viability, morphological changes, and an increased apoptotic index, especially at high doses (250 - 500 μg/mL). Nuclear condensation and chromatin fragmentation confirmed the pro-apoptotic effect. The HET-CAM assay demonstrated the absence of vascular irritation at all concentrations tested. The extract also showed moderate antioxidant activity and a relevant total phenolic content. The data suggest that the ethanolic extract of MO has selective cytotoxic effects on tumour cells without vascular toxicity, making it a promising candidate for future dermatological or oncological applications.