Anti-Stress Effects of Lemon Balm-Containing Foods

Nutrients

Andrew Scholey²  Amy Gibbs²  Chris Neale²  Naomi Perry²  Anastasia Ossoukhova²  Vanessa Bilog²  Marni Kras²  Claudia Scholz³  Mathias Sass¹ 

[1] Rudolf Wild GmbH & Co. KG, Rudolf-Wild-Str. 107-115, D-69214 Eppelheim, Heidelberg, Germany; E-Mail:;Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne VIC 3122, Australia; E-Mails:;Merck Selbstmedikation GmbH, Roesslerstrasse 96, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany; E-Mail:

关键词: lemon balm;    Melissa officinalis;    stress;    cognitive performance;    functional food;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu6114805

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has been used historically and contemporarily as a modulator of mood and cognitive function, with anxiolytic effects following administration of capsules, coated tablets and topical application. Following a pilot study with lemon balm extract administered as a water based drink, which confirmed absorption of rosmarinic acid effects on mood and cognitive function, we conducted two similar double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies. These evaluated the mood and cognitive effects of a standardised M. officinalis preparation administered in palatable forms in a beverage and in yoghurt. In each study a cohort of healthy young adults’ self-rated aspects of mood were measured before and after a multi-tasking framework (MTF) administered one hour and three hours following one of four treatments. Both active lemon balm treatments were generally associated with improvements in mood and/or cognitive performance, though there were some behavioral “costs” at other doses and these effects depended to some degree on the delivery matrix.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.