Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. (Fabaceae/Leguminosae)

Abstract

It is a legume species native to Persia and India, and naturalized in North America, Africa and Australia. Muslim writers described two kinds of melilot, but both plants look alike except for their fruits. Fruits of one are crescent-shaped with small roundish seeds something like fenugreek , while the fruits of other variety are much smaller and only slightly curved; both have fenugreek -like odor. The best fruit for medicinal purposes is hard , yellowish-white, and aromatic with yellow seeds. Greeks (Dioscorides) held the plant in high esteem and the Muslim physicians followed their footstep. The pods with seeds (fruits) are considered suppurative, and slightly astringent, and used as plaster to resolve tumors and cold swellings. Fruits are described as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic and emmenagogue, lactogenic, and strengthen internal organs, such as liver and spleen. Head massage of its oil improves mental acuity, intelligence, amnesia, and melancholy. It contains flavonoids and phenolic compounds with iron-chelating and antioxidant properties. An extract of the plant containing 0.25% coumarin produced anti-inflammatory effect on turpentine oil-induced inflammation in rabbits, and methanol extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity and chelated iron overload in rats. Treatment with a coumarin extract for six-months was effective in 79% Italian patients in reducing lymphedema post-lymphadenectomy due to breast cancer, though with a modest decrease of 5% in upper arm circumference but improvement in symptoms in more than 50% patients. It has also been tested in combination with other drugs for patients with chronic venous insufficiency.