Lemon balm

A herbaceous, aromatic, perennial plant measuring 30 to 80 cm tall, with upright stems with square sections - Small, oval, embossed and serrated bright green leaves that release a gentle lemony fragrance when rubbed - White flowers with bell-shaped calyces.

Latin name

Melissa officinalis

Origin

East of the Mediterranean basin, then throughout Europe since ancient times.

Used part

The leaves.

Active components

Phenolic acids (rosmarinic acids): these substances with antioxidant properties are responsible for the anxiolytic and calming effect.

Essential oil: responsible for the aroma and contributes to the antioxidant action.

Flavonoids (apigenin): antioxidant.

Usage

The fresh or dried leaves can be used to prepare a herbal tea, and can be blended with black tea. Lemon balm is used as seasoning in numerous recipes such as fish, soup, sauces and omelettes. It has a natural preservative action. The essential oil is sometimes used to repel mosquitoes and other insects. Thanks to its antioxidant action, lemon balm protects the tissues against oxidative stress. _1-6What makes the plant interesting is its calming effect in the case of stress. It supports good cognitive function, well-being and contributes to restorative sleep. _7-14It is also used to support digestion and relieve intestinal cramps. _15-16

Bibliographical references

Neuroprotective properties of Melissa officinalis afterhypoxic-ischemic injury both in vitro and in vivo.
Bayat M, Azami Tameh A, Hossein Ghahremani M, Akbari M, MehrSE, Khanavi M, Hassanzadeh G.
Daru. 2012 Oct 3;20(1):42.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23351182
Protective effect of Melissa officinalis aqueous extractagainst Mn-induced oxidative stress in chronically exposed mice.
Martins EN, Pessano NT, Leal L, Roos DH, Folmer V, Puntel GO,Rocha JB, Aschner M, Ávila DS, Puntel RL.
Brain Res Bull. 2012 Jan 4;87(1):74-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22020131
Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic contents oforegano (Origanum vulgare), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) andlemon balm (Melissa officinalis) from Romania.
Spiridon I, Colceru S, Anghel N, Teaca CA, Bodirlau R, ArmatuA.
Nat Prod Res. 2011 Oct;25(17):1657-61.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21707233
Neuroprotective and neurological properties of Melissaofficinalis.
López V, Martín S, Gómez-Serranillos MP, Carretero ME, JägerAK, Calvo MI.
Neurochem Res. 2009 Nov;34(11):1955-61.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19760174
Radical scavenging, antibacterial, and antiproliferativeactivities of Melissa officinalis L. extracts.
Canadanović-Brunet J, Cetković G, Djilas S, Tumbas V,Bogdanović G, Mandić A, Markov S, Cvetković D, Canadanović V.
J Med Food. 2008 Mar;11(1):133-43.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18361749
Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Melissaofficinalis L. (Lamiaceae) essential oil.
Mimica-Dukic N, Bozin B, Sokovic M, Simin N.
J Agric Food Chem. 2004 May 5;52(9):2485-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15113145
Attenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans afteracute administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm).
Kennedy DO, Little W, Scholey AB.
Psychosom Med. 2004 Jul-Aug;66(4):607-13.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15272110
Bioassay-guided fractionation of lemon balm (Melissaofficinalis L.) using an in vitro measure of GABA transaminaseactivity.
Awad R, Muhammad A, Durst T, Trudeau VL, Arnason JT.
Phytother Res. 2009 Aug;23(8):1075-81.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19165747
Pilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in thetreatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to-moderate anxietydisorders and sleep disturbances.
Cases J, Ibarra A, Feuillère N, Roller M, Sukkar SG.
Med J Nutrition Metab. 2011 Dec;4(3):211-218.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22207903

10. Effects of chronic administration of Melissa officinalisL. extract on anxiety-like reactivity and on circadian andexploratory activities in mice.
Ibarra A, Feuillere N, Roller M, Lesburgere E, Beracochea D.
Phytomedicine. 2010 May;17(6):397-403.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20171069
Effects of traditionally used anxiolytic botanicals onenzymes of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system.
Authors: Awad, R.; Levac, D.; Cybulska, P.; Merali, Z.;Trudeau, V.L.; Arnason, J.T.
Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, Volume 85,Number 9, September 2007 , pp. 933-942(10)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18066140
Modulation of mood and cognitive performance followingacute administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemonbalm) with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-bindingproperties.
Kennedy DO, Wake G, Savelev S, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, WesnesKA, Scholey AB.
Neuropsychopharmacology. 2003 Oct;28(10):1871-81.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12888775
Neurotropic action of the hydroalcoholic extract ofMelissa officinalis in the mouse.
Soulimani R, Fleurentin J, Mortier F, Misslin R, Derrieu G,Pelt JM.
Planta Med. 1991 Apr;57(2):105-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1891490
Anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of Melissaofficinalis (lemon balm) extract in rats: Influence ofadministration and gender.
Taiwo AE, Leite FB, Lucena GM, Barros M, Silveira D, SilvaMV, Ferreira VM.
Indian J Pharmacol. 2012 Mar;44(2):189-92.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22529473
Protective role of Melissa officinalis L. extract onliver of hyperlipidemic rats: a morphological and biochemicalstudy.
Bolkent S, Yanardag R, Karabulut-Bulan O, Yesilyaprak B.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jul 14;99(3):391-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15946812
Relaxant effect of essential oil of Melissa officinalisand citral on rat ileum contractions.
Sadraei H, Ghannadi A, Malekshahi K.
Fitoterapia. 2003 Jul;74(5):445-52.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12837359

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