Ameliorative effect of lemon balm on eltroxin induced-hyperthyroidism in rats

Keywords Lemon balm has many therapeutic effects including antimicrobial activity (anti-parasitic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, etc.). Various studies have shown that Lemon balm possesses a high amount of antioxidant activity through its chemical components including high amount of flavonoids, rosmaric acid, gallic acid and phenolic contents. This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Lemon balm extract against hyperthyroidism induced by Eltroxin. Hyperthyroidism was induced by injecting rats with Eltroxin (100 μg/kg/ day) for 14 days. The hyperthyroid rats were orally treated with Lemon balm extract (75 mg/kg/day) at the beginning of the second week of the Eltroxin injection and continued for another week. The levels of TSH , T3 ,T4 and oxidative biomarkers (NO and CAT ) were measured using commercial kits. Thyroid specimens were taken for histopathological examination. Lemon balm extract reversed the effect of Eltroxin on rats and attenuated the thyroid hormones Additionally, Lemon balm extract alleviated the inflammatory response by suppressing the NO and increasing CAT when compared to hyperthyroid group. Accordingly, these results might strengthen the protective effect of Lemon balm extract in a rat model of hyperthyroidism.