Lemon Verbena (Lippia citrodora) Research

Latin Name: Lippia citrodora

Family: Apiaceae

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

GENERAL

• This provided a review of lemon verbena, used by local people for digestive complaints, insomnia, and arthritis.  In vitro and in vivo studies showed antioxidant, anxiolytic, sedative, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, anesthetic, and antimicrobial effects. From:  Bahramsoltani, R., Rostamiasrabadi, P., Shahpiri, Z., Marques, A. M., Rahimi, R., & Farzaei, M. H. (2018). Aloysia citrodora Paláu (Lemon verbena): a review of phytochemistry and pharmacology. Journal of ethnopharmacology. 
• Tisserand, R. & Young, R.  (2014).  Essential Oil Safety.  Second Edition.  Churchill, Livingstone, Elsevier.

SAFETY

• Possible skin irritant / skin sensitizing; avoid with sensitive skin (Tisserand & Young, 2014).
• May interfere with certain medications for diabetes, and those metabolized by CYP2B6 (Tisserand & Young, 2014).
• Avoid during pregnancy and with small children (Tisserand & Young, 2014).
• Do not exceed more than 2 grams of herb.  From:  Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Khoddami, M., Khazraei, H. R., Dehkordil, E. B., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2017). Hypolipidemic herbals with diuretic effects: A systematic review. In Biol. Sci (Vol. 8, pp. 21-28).

ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTIFUNGAL

• Mentha piperita (peppermint), M. spicata (spearmint), Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Origanum vulgare (oregano), O. applii (oregano), Aloysia triphylla (lemon verbena), Ocimum gratissimum (basil), and O. basilicum (basil) were studied and demonstrated varying degrees of antimicrobial activity.  From:  Sartoratto, A., Machado, A. L. M., Delarmelina, C., Figueira, G. M., Duarte, M. C. T., & Rehder, V. L. G. (2004). Composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from aromatic plants used in Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 35(4), 275-280.
• Of 35 medicinal plants tested, the essential oils from 13 plants showed anti-Candida activity: Aloysia triphylla (lemon verbena), Anthemis nobilis (Roman chamomile), Cymbopogon martini (palmarosa), Cymbopogon winterianus (lemongrass), Cyperus articulatus, Cyperus rotundus, Lippia alba, Mentha arvensis, Mikania glomerata, Mentha piperita, Mentha sp., Stachys byzantina, and Solidago chilensis. From: Duarte, M. C. T., Figueira, G. M., Sartoratto, A., Rehder, V. L. G., & Delarmelina, C. (2005). Anti-Candida activity of Brazilian medicinal plants. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 97(2), 305-311.
• Salad preservation was lengthened with the essential oils ofthyme verbena, thyme, oregano, ajowan, tea tree, clove, sage, and rosemary.  From:  Molinos, A. C., Abriouel, H., López, R. L., Omar, N. B., Valdivia, E., & Gálvez, A. (2009). Enhanced bactericidal activity of enterocin AS-48 in combination with essential oils, natural bioactive compounds and chemical preservatives against Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat salad. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 47(9), 2216-2223.

INSOMNIA

• In a study of 100 patients with insomnia, oral intake of A. citriodora reduced symptoms taken daily over 4 weeks compared to the control group. From: Afrasiabian, F., Mirabzadeh Ardakani, M., Rahmani, K., Azadi, N. A., Alemohammad, Z. B., Bidaki, R., … & Hashempur, M. H. (2019). Aloysia citriodora Palau (lemon verbena) for insomnia patients: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial of efficacy and safety. Phytotherapy research, 33(2), 350-359.

REDUCED JOINT PAIN

• A blend of lemon verbena extract in fish oil taken orally reduced joint pain in humans.  From:  Caturla, N., Funes, L., Pérez-Fons, L., & Micol, V. (2011). A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of the effect of a combination of lemon verbena extract and fish oil omega-3 fatty acid on joint management. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17(11), 1051-1063.

INSECTICIDAL / LARVICIDAL / REPELLENT

• Thirteen oils from 41 plants (camphor, thyme, amyris, lemon, cedarwood, frankincense, dill, myrtle, juniper, black pepper, verbena, helichrysum and sandalwood) induced 100% mortality after 24 hours of mosquito larvae.  From:  Amer, A., & Mehlhorn, H. (2006). Larvicidal effects of various essential oils against Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex larvae (Diptera, Culicidae). Parasitology research, 99(4), 466-472.
• The following plant oils showed repellent activity against the mosquito Aedes aegypti:  Acantholippia seriphioides, Achyrocline satureioides, Aloysia citriodora (lemon verbena), Anemia tomentosa, Baccharis spartioides, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Eucalyptus saligna, Hyptis mutabilis, Minthostachys mollis (mint), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Tagetes minuta and Tagetes pusilla (marigold). From:  Gillij, Y. G., Gleiser, R. M., & Zygadlo, J. A. (2008). Mosquito repellent activity of essential oils of aromatic plants growing in Argentina. Bioresource technology, 99(7), 2507-2515.

DIURETIC

• A compilation of research showed the following herbs to have a diuretic effect:  yarrow, lemon verbena, pineapple, dill, gorden asparagus, mugwort, oats, barberry, Indian tree, turnip, marigold, chicory, lemon, cucumber, pumpkin seed, quince, carrot, flix weed, horsetail, asafetida, fig, barely, St. John’s wort, bay, alfalfa, European pennyroyal, mulberry, water cress, catnip, black cumin, parsley, green bean, pistachio, cherry, pomegranate, purstane, savory, tomato, brinjal, tea, haritali, coltsfoot, nettle, bell bean, and corn.  From:  Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Khoddami, M., Khazraei, H. R., Dehkordil, E. B., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2017). Hypolipidemic herbals with diuretic effects: A systematic review. In Biol. Sci (Vol. 8, pp. 21-28).

ORAL HEALTH

• This article reviews plants used in oral health and includes pomegranate, German chamomile, green tea, Diospyros mespiliformis, Diospyros lycioides, Salvadora persica, honey and propolis from the manuka tree, rhubarb, raisins, essential oils (thyme, cajuput, manuka, and verbena), probiotics and mushrooms. From: Chinsembu, K. C. (2016). Plants and other natural products used in the management of oral infections and improvement of oral health. Acta Tropica, 154, 6-18.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 9/13/19