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

Authors :
Hisashi Kato-Noguchi
Source :
Acta Physiologiae Plantarum. 23:49-53
Publication Year :
2001
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2001.

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.

Details

ISSN :
18611664 and 01375881
Volume :
23
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Acta Physiologiae Plantarum
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........22acbdefc8154fd09a3731119b9ae182
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-001-0022-0