Plant Profile

Lemon Verbena

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 14, 2026

Aloysia citrodora

Family: Verbenaceae · Parts used: Leaf · Also known as: Lemon beebrush, Lippia citriodora

The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 7 pharmacological actions, 11 traditional / indicated uses, with 17 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Deciduous, aromatic shrub with slender, brittle branches and whorls of narrow, lance-shaped, rough-textured leaves that release a strong lemon scent when crushed. Small, pale lilac to white flowers are borne in loose terminal and axillary spikes in late summer.^[1]

Height: 1-3 m

Habit: Deciduous, aromatic shrub

Leaves: Narrow, lance-shaped, rough-textured, borne in whorls of three; strongly lemon-scented when crushed

Flowers: Small, pale lilac to white flowers in loose terminal and axillary spikes

Stem: Slender, brittle, woody branches

Root: Woody rootstock

Fruit: Small dry schizocarp

Flowering Period: Late summer

Habitat & Distribution

Native to South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru) and widely cultivated as a culinary and medicinal herb in warm-temperate and Mediterranean climates worldwide, typically in sunny, well-drained garden sites.^[1]

Harvesting

Leaves are picked through the growing season, with the essential oil content and aroma at their best just before flowering; leaves are used fresh or dried quickly in a warm, shaded, airy place to preserve the lemon-scented volatile oil.^[1]

Parts: Leaf

Season: Spring to autumn, best just before flowering

Key Constituents

Essential oil (neral and geranial, i.e. citral)^{[1, 3]}

Gives the lemon aroma and contributes to the calming and antimicrobial effects.

Essential (volatile) oilCitral (neral / geranial)

Verbascoside (acteoside)^{[1, 7]}

The principal polyphenol of the extract and a major antioxidant constituent.

Verbascoside (acteoside)Phenolic compounds

Flavonoids^[1]

Additional antioxidant constituents.

Flavonoids

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[1, 4, 7]}

Anticancer (preclinical)^{[1, 2, 10, 11]}

Aloysia citrodora (lemon verbena) essential oil and extracts inhibit growth and migration of breast cancer and melanoma cells and reduce tumour size in vivo (preclinical).

Antioxidant^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12, 13]}

Antioxidant - supports muscle recovery and reduces exercise-induced muscle soreness and oxidative stress; a placebo-controlled RCT of a lemon verbena extract found less loss of muscle strength and less soreness after exhaustive exercise

Anxiolytic / calming^[1]

Anxiolytic / calming (anxiety) - also supported by a clinical trial of the closely related Aloysia polystachya

Carminative^[1]

Carminative digestive aid (indigestion, flatulence)

Digestive aid^[1]

Carminative digestive aid (indigestion, flatulence)

Sedative / sleep support^{[1, 3, 14, 15]}

Sedative / sleep support (insomnia)

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Anxiety^[1]Good · 7/10

Anxiolytic / calming (anxiety) - also supported by a clinical trial of the closely related Aloysia polystachya

Evidence: 7

Label: Anxiety

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Arthritis / joint pain^{[1, 7]}Good · 7/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 7

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

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Bloating^[1]Good · 7/10

Carminative digestive aid (indigestion, flatulence)

Evidence: 7

Label: Bloating

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Cancer (anticancer research)^{[1, 2, 10, 11]}Good · 7/10

Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) essential oil and extracts show antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity against breast cancer and melanoma cells in vitro and reduce tumour growth in mouse models (targeting HB-EGF/EGFR and ERK signalling) (preclinical).

Evidence: 7

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

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Indigestion^[1]Good · 7/10

Carminative digestive aid (indigestion, flatulence)

Evidence: 7

Label: Indigestion

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Inflammation (general)^{[1, 7]}Good · 7/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 7

Label: Inflammation (general)

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Insomnia / sleeplessness^{[1, 14, 15]}Strong · 9/10

Sedative / sleep support (insomnia)

Evidence: 9

Label: Insomnia / sleeplessness

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Muscle soreness^{[1, 12]}Good · 8/10

Evidence: 8

Label: Muscle soreness

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Nervous tension^[1]Good · 7/10

inferred from anxiolytic action

Evidence: 7

Label: Nervous tension

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Skin irritation^{[1, 7]}Good · 7/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 7

Label: Skin irritation

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Stress^[1]Good · 7/10

Evidence: 7

Label: Stress

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Traditional Use & History

Lemon verbena leaf is a traditional South American and Mediterranean remedy for digestive complaints (indigestion, flatulence), as a calming, mildly sedative tea for anxiety and sleep, and is widely drunk as a fragrant culinary herbal tea.^[1]

Preparations

Infusion^[1]

Fresh or dried leaf infused in hot water as a fragrant digestive and calming tea.

Standardised extract^[7]

Concentrated leaf extract (rich in verbascoside) used in some clinical studies of muscle recovery and antioxidant support.

Dosage

Infusion^[9]

The EU herbal monograph on Verbenae citriodorae folium gives, for adolescents, adults and elderly - for mild symptoms of mental stress, 5 g of the comminuted leaf in 100 mL of boiling water as a decoction three times daily; to aid sleep, 1-2 g in 200 mL as an infusion half an hour before bedtime; and for mild digestive complaints, 2-3 g in 200 mL as an infusion 1-3 times daily, or 1 g in 200 mL up to 5 times daily. Not recommended in children. If symptoms persist longer than 2 weeks a healthcare practitioner should be consulted. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[1]Info

Generally well tolerated; human safety and efficacy are not fully established. Its sedative effect can add to that of alcohol, sedatives and sleep medicines.

Safety note^[1]Caution

Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established, so avoid medicinal doses.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Sedatives Cns Depressants^{[16, 17]}Caution

Mechanism: Lemon verbena is traditionally used as a calming, sedative herb; taken with sedatives, sleeping tablets or other central-nervous-system depressants (including alcohol) it may add to drowsiness and slowed reactions.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-03

Harvest Readiness

^[8]

Part: leaf

Signals: Harvest the leaves as the plant approaches flowering - just before the tiny white flowers open - when the leaf aromatic oil is at its peak; oil (citral) content falls once flowering is under way.

Basis: both

Constituent Note: The same source ties the timing to leaf-oil content: 'Once flowering begins in earnest, the plant redirects its energy away from leaf oil production,' and 'Harvest a week after full bloom, and you are getting a mere fraction of the medicinal load.'

Source Quote: just before its tiny white flowers open, its leaves reach a medicinal peak

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: Nature and Garden, lemon verbena (REF-3196), for Aloysia citrodora. Timing plus constituent rationale come from one source -> provisional; a peer-reviewed essential-oil-content study (e.g. Acta Sci. Pol. Hortorum Cultus) would give an independent second prism for verified.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

References & Sources

Bahramsoltani, R., Rostamiasrabadi, P., Shahpiri, Z., Marques, A.M., Rahimi, R. and Farzaei, M.H (2018) 'Aloysia citrodora Palau (Lemon verbena): A review of phytochemistry and pharmacology', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, pp. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.04.021 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.04.021
Rashid, H.M., Mahmod, A.I., Afifi, F.U. and Talib, W.H (2022) 'Antioxidant and Antiproliferation Activities of Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora): An In Vitro and In Vivo Study', Plants, 11(6). doi:10.3390/plants11060785 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11060785
Abuhamdah, S. and Abuhamdah, R. and Howes, M.J.R. and Al-Olimat, S. and Ennaceur, A. and Chazot, P.L (2015) 'Pharmacological and neuroprotective profile of an essential oil derived from leaves of Aloysia citrodora Palau', The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 67(9), pp. 1306-1315. doi:10.1111/jphp.12424 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/jphp.12424
Sprea, R.M. and Fernandes, L.H.M. and Pires, T.C.S.P. and Calhelha, R.C. and Rodrigues, P.J. and Amaral, J.S (2023) 'Volatile Compounds and Biological Activity of the Essential Oil of Aloysia citrodora Palau: Comparison of Hydrodistillation and Microwave-Assisted Hydrodistillation', Molecules, 28(11), pp. 4528. doi:10.3390/molecules28114528 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28114528
El-Ouady, F. and Eddouks, M (2021) 'Antihyperglycemic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Lippia citriodora in Rats', Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 21(4), pp. 711-719. doi:10.2174/1871530320666200610153532 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.2174/1871530320666200610153532
Cadenillas, L.F., Hernandez, C., Bailly, S., Billerach, G., Durrieu, V. and Bailly, J.D (2023) 'Role of Polyphenols from the Aqueous Extract of Aloysia citrodora in the Inhibition of Aflatoxin B1 Synthesis', Molecules, 28(13), pp. 5123. doi:10.3390/molecules28135123 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135123
Tammar, S., Salem, N., Aidi Wannes, W., Limam, H., Bourgou, S., Fares, N. and others (2021) 'Chemometric Profiling and Bioactivity of Verbena (Aloysia citrodora) Methanolic Extract from Four Localities in Tunisia', Foods, 10(12). doi:10.3390/foods10122912 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10122912
Nature and Garden 'Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora): Harvesting at Peak Potency'. Available at: https://www.nature-and-garden.com/health/lemon-verbena-harvesting-and-using-it-at-peak-potency-for-calming-remedies.html Traditional / reference
https://www.nature-and-garden.com/health/lemon-verbena-harvesting-and-using-it-at-peak-potency-for-calming-remedies.html
European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2018) 'European Union herbal monograph on Aloysia citrodora Paláu (syn. Aloysia triphylla (L'Hér.) Kuntze; Verbena triphylla L'Hér.; Lippia citriodora Kunth), folium'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-aloysia-citrodora-palau-syn-aloysia-triphylla-lher-kuntze-verbena-triphylla-lher-lippia-citriodora-kunth-folium_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-aloysia-citrodora-palau-syn-aloysia-triphylla-lher-kuntze-verbena-triphylla-lher-lippia-citriodora-kunth-folium_en.pdf
Salama, Y. and Jaradat, N. and Hattori, K. and Heissig, B (2021) 'Aloysia Citrodora Essential Oil Inhibits Melanoma Cell Growth and Migration by Targeting HB-EGF-EGFR Signaling', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(15), pp. 8151. doi:10.3390/ijms22158151 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22158151
Spyridopoulou, K. and Aravidou, T. and Lampri, E. and Effraimidou, E. and Pappa, A. and Chlichlia, K (2021) 'Antitumor Potential of Lippia citriodora Essential Oil in Breast Tumor-Bearing Mice', Antioxidants, 10(6), pp. 875. doi:10.3390/antiox10060875 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10060875
Buchwald-Werner, S., Naka, I., Wilhelm, M., Schutz, E., Schoen, C. and Reule, C (2018) 'Effects of lemon verbena extract (Recoverben) supplementation on muscle strength and recovery after exhaustive exercise: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial', Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. doi:10.1186/s12970-018-0208-0 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0208-0
Hoseinifar, S.H., Shakouri, M., Doan, H.V., Shafiei, S., Yousefi, M., Raeisi, M. and others (2020) 'Dietary supplementation of lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) improved immunity, immune-related genes expression and antioxidant enzymes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)', Fish and Shellfish Immunology, pp. 379--385. doi:10.1016/j.fsi.2020.02.006 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2020.02.006
Afrasiabian, F., Mirabzadeh Ardakani, M., Rahmani, K., Azadi, N.A., Alemohammad, Z.B., Bidaki, R., Karimi, M., Emtiazy, M. and Hashempur, M.H (2018) 'Aloysia citriodora Palau (lemon verbena) for insomnia patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of efficacy and safety', Phytotherapy Research, 33(2), pp. 350--359. doi:10.1002/ptr.6228 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6228
Perez-Pinero, S., Munoz-Carrillo, J.C., Echepare-Taberna, J., Munoz-Camara, M., Herrera-Fernandez, C., Garcia-Guillen, A.I. and others (2024) 'Dietary Supplementation with an Extract of Aloysia citrodora (Lemon verbena) Improves Sleep Quality in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Study', Nutrients, 16(10). doi:10.3390/nu16101523 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101523
Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201
Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003

Selected studies & references

ReviewTherapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review source↗ (2024)

ReviewAloysia citrodora Palau (Lemon verbena): A review of phytochemistry and pharmacology source↗ (2018)

ReviewSafety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care source↗ (2004)

RctDietary Supplementation with an Extract of Aloysia citrodora (Lemon verbena) Improves Sleep Quality in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Study source↗ (2024)

RctAloysia citriodora Palau (lemon verbena) for insomnia patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of efficacy and safety source↗ (2018)

RctEffects of lemon verbena extract (Recoverben) supplementation on muscle strength and recovery after exhaustive exercise: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial source↗ (2018)

PreclinicalRole of Polyphenols from the Aqueous Extract of Aloysia citrodora in the Inhibition of Aflatoxin B1 Synthesis source↗ (2023)

PreclinicalVolatile Compounds and Biological Activity of the Essential Oil of Aloysia citrodora Palau: Comparison of Hydrodistillation and Microwave-Assisted Hydrodistillation source↗ (2023)

All 15 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
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