Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis have shown that it contains mainly flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, tannins and essential oil. The main active constituents of Melissa officinalis are volatile compounds (geranial, neral, citronellal and geraniol), triterpenes (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid), phenolic compounds (rosmarinic acid, caffeic
acid, and protocatechuic acid) and flavonoids (quercetin, rhamnocitrin, luteolin). Essential oil is usually considered to be the responsible therapeutic principle for most biological activities, but polyphenols are also involved.

Melissa officinalis essential oil—obtained from the fresh or dried flower, leaf, and branches of this plant by water steam distillation or chemical extraction—is characterized by a fresh lemon odor and light-yellow color.

The traditional uses of Melissa is for relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep and for symptomatic treatment of mild gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence (EMA, 2013).