Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Sleep & Stress Support
Overview
- Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) is a perennial herb of the Lamiaceae family, native to Europe and the Mediterranean but now cultivated worldwide.
- Its leaves contain a rich mixture of polyphenols, flavonoids, and essential-oil constituents.
- Traditionally used for calming, digestive, and antiviral purposes.
- Modern research investigates these phytochemicals for their therapeutic potential.
Chemistry
- The principal bio-active components are:
- Rosmarinic acid – C₁₈H₁₆O₈, IUPAC: (2E)-2-[(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-methane-1-yl]-2-propene-1-oic acid, a phenolic ester with two catechol moieties conferring strong antioxidant capacity.
- Luteolin – C₁₅H₁₀O₆, a flavone with a planar aromatic structure that binds GABA-A receptors.
- Citronellal – C₁₀H₁₈O, IUPAC: 3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-2-one, a monoterpenoid aldehyde contributing to the characteristic lemon scent and interacting with TRP channels.
- These compounds are lipophilic (essential-oil) and hydrophilic (polyphenols), enabling mixed-solvent extraction (ethanol, water-ethanol) for standardized extracts.
Sources & Quality
- Commercial lemon-balm is harvested from cultivated fields in Europe (France, Albania) and North America, where climate and soil influence essential-oil composition.
- Harvest occurs pre-flowering to maximize rosmarinic-acid content; leaves are air-dried then milled.
- Extraction methods include:
- (i) hydro-ethanol extraction (70 % ethanol) for polyphenol-rich extracts;
- (ii) steam-distillation for essential-oil isolates (citronellal, citral).
- Quality assessment relies on HPLC-UV for rosmarinic-acid content (≥ 5 % w/w) and GC-MS for essential-oil profile.
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification, third-party testing for heavy metals, and a certified botanical identity (DNA barcoding) are key quality indicators for reputable supplements.
Where to Buy Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
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