23 - Lemon balm

Abstract

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) belongs to the family Labiatae (Mint family) is an aromatic and fairly hardy perennial sub-shrub. It is a cross-pollinating species and has complete perfect flowers with very short-stalked epidermal glands. There has been a growing demand for plant-based medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, cosmetics, etc. Lemon balm is one of those plants and is used in several areas. In some countries, such as Turkey, Syria and the Kingdom of Jordan, many medicinal and aromatic plants, including lemon balm, are collected from the flora. Cultivation of these species should alleviate the pressure on the wild populations and avoid their extinction. Therefore, apart from protection of biodiversity, its cultivation is commercially attractive to companies, as providing standard raw material in terms of quality and supply. Today, lemon balm is widely cultivated in Europe and the United States, but also grows wild along paths and roadsides. Lemon balm can be propagated from seeds, stem cuttings and root division. It, as a perennial plant, can be harvested twice or three times a season just before blooming. Lemon balm in food processing has a wide range of uses, such as tea, herb, flavourant or culinary. It has a wide range of uses for medicinal, antimicrobial, antioxidant purposes and as a functional food. A moderate amount of investigation on lemon balm has been carried out to determine its medicinal effects such as antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor and sedative effects.