Lemon Balm

Melissa Officinalis is a perennial, lemon-scented herb with several known names in literature such as balm, common balm, balm mint, and lemon balm.Lemon Balm has been used for well over 2,000 years, as mentioned by Paracelsus (1493-541), who believed that Lemon Balm was the "elixir of life". The genus name "Melissa", meaning "bee" in Greek refers to its small white flowers full of bee-attracting nectar. Since a long time ago in the West, dried Lemon Balm leaves have often been used as a valuable spice and herb. This little sweet herb is sold widely in the U.S. for two main reasons: to support health and longevity. *

Lemon Balm flavor helps to induce a calm feeling and acts to reduce blood pressure by lowering our heartbeat [1]

Lemon Balm has traditionally been used as a modulator of mood and cognitive functions. Anxiolytic effects can be seen following administration of capsules, coated tablets, and topical application. More recently, research has turned its attention towards the bioactive properties of Lemon Balm, including its effect on the central nervous system. Results indicate that Lemon Balm delivered in food items can exert positive behavioral effects which can be applied to our health [5]

Lemon Balm Kombucha is traditionally used as it possesses higher amounts of antioxidant and antibacterial properties [2][6] that's effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus species, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella species (gram-negative bacteria), Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus equorum, Bacillus species, Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua (gram-positive bacteria).

In many cases, myocardial infarction leads to arrhythmia. Since antioxidant properties play an important protective role in heart disease, these compounds in medicinal plants are used in traditional medicine. When compared with other plants of the Lamiaceae family, Lemon Balm extract has proven to have significant amounts of antioxidant compounds [7]. Lemon Balm was considered to be an antiarrhythmic agent because it reduced the incidence percentage of premature ventricular beats, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation in the groups that received it. Results indicated that Lemon Balm had a protective effect on the heart [3][7].

Lemon Balm has been used to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety headaches, memory deterioration, and menstrual pain. It has also been used as an antidote for detoxifying poisonous mushrooms. Furthermore, dried Lemon Balm extract is used to improve blood circulation [4].

Glioblastoma multiforme (the most common and lethal form of cancer) is the cause of approximately 50% of all brain tumors. The aqueous extract of Lemon Balm is rich in phenolic compounds such as protocatechuic, caftaric, caffeic, ferulic, cichoric acids and flavonoid, luteolin-7-glucoside. At concentrations of 50 μM - 200 μM, this extract displays cytotoxic properties and initiates cancer cell death through apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Extracts prepared with 70% ethanol contained the most amount of active compounds. These extracts proved to have the highest cytotoxic activity on glioblastoma cells as it initiates the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and cell death through apoptosis and necrosis. Lemon Balm extracts affect glioblastoma cells and can be used as a neuroprotective agent in several therapeutic strategies [8]. The implication that an ethanolic extract of Lemon Balm has antigenotoxic or antimutagenic properties is an indication of its medicinal relevance [14].

Age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of irreversible visual loss among the elderly in developed countries. Lemon Balm extract displays therapeutic potential for the prevention of dry age-related macular degeneration [9] and protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Brain ischemia initiates several metabolic events leading to neuronal death. These events mediate a large amount of damage that arises after some neurodegenerative disorders as well as transient brain ischemia. Lemon Balm is considered a helpful herbal plant in the prevention of various neurological diseases like Alzheimer's (in relation to oxidative stress) [10].

Lemon Balm preparations exert a mildly soothing antiviral effect, improves the digestive tract, and relaxes intestinal spasms. Currently, there are comprehensive surveys that attempt to display the effects of Lemon Balm on the herpes simplex virus [11]. Since Lemon Balm can work as an antiviral, some authors have stated that it can be used to treat HIV-1 infections. In vitro studies have shown that Lemon Balm preparations inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase [12].

There is evidence in scientific literature that Lemon Balm also provides antihistamine effects. It can be used externally by placing the cut grass on insect bites or other irritated areas. Rosmarinic acid in Lemon Balm has demonstrated more active antioxidant activity when compared to α-tocopherol. Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects, rosmarinic acid is effective in relieving symptoms of atopic dermatitis. The in vivo study conducted by Lee et al. (2008) stated that people with atopic dermatitis and who applied a rosmarinic acid emulsion daily, experienced a decrease of erythema after 4 - 8 weeks and decrease water loss after 8 weeks [13].

Fresh Lemon Balm contains potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, strontium, selenium, and Vitamin C.Lemon Balm is a good potential source of many functional components, including polyphenolic compounds (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and protocatechuic acid), monoterpenoid aldehydes, essential oils (citral), sesquiterpenes, citronellal, linalool, and geraniol.Lemon Balm is high in flavonoids (such as luteolin) which may support healthy antioxidation in the body. *It also contains tannins, which are astringent and contribute to the Lemon Balm's toutic effects as a health tonic. *

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