Anti-stress effects of lemon balm-containing foods

Andrew Scholey, Amy Gibbs, Chris Neale, Naomi Perry, Anastasia Ossoukhova, Vanessa Bilog, Marni Kras, Claudia Scholz, Mathias Sass, Sybille Buchwald-Werner, Andrew Scholey, Amy Gibbs, Chris Neale, Naomi Perry, Anastasia Ossoukhova, Vanessa Bilog, Marni Kras, Claudia Scholz, Mathias Sass, Sybille Buchwald-Werner

Abstract

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.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The on-screen layout of the Multi-tasking framework. In this case depicting (clockwise from top left) mental arithmetic, stroop, memory search, and psychomotor tracking.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Serum concentration of rosmarinic acid following oral administration of lemon balm (means ± SEM are presented).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of lemon balm on state anxiety (means ± SEM are presented). Significant differences between treatments are indicated by asterisks (*p < 0.05).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of lemon balm drinks on performance of the multi-tasking framework (means ± SEM are presented).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effects of lemon balm drinks on salivary cortisol levels (means ± SEM are presented).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Effects of lemon balm in yoghurt on alertness, mental fatigue, maths performance and immediate word recall (means ± SEM are presented).

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Source: PubMed

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