Received: 05.05.2026
Accepted: 01.06.2026
Published online: 17.06.2026
UDC: 615.322:577.19
DOI: 10.53511/pharmkaz.2026.3.13
THE DETERMINATION OF THE COMPOSITION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
SUBSTANCES IN THE HERB OF LEMON BALM (MELISSA OFFICINALIS), CULTIVATED
IN THE REGIONS OF KASKASU AND INTYMAK
K.K. Orynbasarova¹, G.S. Rakhmanova¹, B.I. Tursubekova², R.K. Pernebekova ¹,³
¹ JSC «South Kazakhstan Medical Academy», Shymkent, Republic of Kazakhsta
² M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University, Shymkent, Republic of Kazakhstan
³ Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Turkestan, Republic of Kazakhstan
Introduction. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is widely used in traditional and modern medicine due to its therapeutic properties, such as sedative, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects. However, the effectiveness and safety of using preparations based on it directly depend on the knowledge of its chemical composition and the concentration of biologically active substances. Given the growing interest in phytotherapy and natural sources of biologically active
compounds, the study of the chemical composition of lemon balm remains highly relevant. Moreover, the presence of significant regional and ecological differences in the composition of plant raw materials requires a deeper study of the impact of environmental factors on the content of key components, such as essential oils, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.
Objective: The goal of the research is a comparative analysis of the chemical composition of biologically active substances in the herb of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) cultivated in the regions of Kaskasu and Intymak in the Turkestan region.
Methods. The aerial parts of Melissa officinalis cultivated and collected during the flowering period in June 2024 from the Kaskasu and Yntymak areas of the Turkestan region were used as the object of the study. The following methods were applied for the isolation and determination of biologically active substances: chemical identification reactions, permanganometric analysis, radionuclide determination, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These approaches made it possible to identify the main active compounds, including essential oils, flavonoids, and hydrolyzable tannins.
The methods described in Volumes I and III of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Kazakhstan were used for the identification of biologically active compounds.
Results. During the determination of extractive substances, the optimal extractant for Melissa officinalis cultivated in the Kaskasu and Yntymak areas was identified under both single and double extraction conditions. Qualitative reactions revealed the presence of the following biologically active substances: essential oils, flavonoids, and tannins. Essential oils were identified by qualitative reactions, while the quantitative content of hydrolyzable tannins was
determined using the permanganometric method. In addition, the quantitative composition of essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The quantitative content of flavonoids in Melissa officinalis herb was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, radionuclide content was assessed both in the plant material and in the soils of the Kaskasu and Yntymak areas.
Discussion: The results of the study demonstrated that Melissa officinalis herb cultivated in the Kaskasu and Yntymak regions is a promising source of biologically active substances. Essential oils, flavonoids, and tannins were identified in the investigated samples, while 70% ethanol was found to be the most effective extractant under double extraction conditions. It was established that growing conditions mainly affect the quantitative content of individual compounds. The tannin content in the Kaskasu sample was 4.22%, whereas in the Yntymak sample it was 3.16%. A similar trend was observed for flavonoids, including quercetin, the content of which was higher in the Kaskasu sample. GC–MS analysis of essential oils revealed a similar qualitative composition in both samples. The main components were α-terpinolene, γ-terpinene, (+)-4-carene, and D-limonene, indicating the stability of the chemical profile of Melissa officinalis regardless of the cultivation area. The radionuclide analysis showed that the specific activity of the investigated radionuclides and the integral radioactivity index did not exceed the permissible natural background levels. Thus, the cultivation area mainly influences the quantitative content of biologically active substances, whereas their qualitative composition remains relatively stable.
Conclusions. The obtained results provide a basis for expanding the raw material base of lemon balm.
Keywords: Melissa officinalis, extractive substances, biologically active substances, essential oils, qualitative reactions, radionuclides, GC–MS, HPLC.
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