Systematic comparison of nutraceuticals and antioxidant potential of cultivated, in vitro cultured and commercial Melissa officinalis samples

Abstract

Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) infusions are used worldwide for digestive, analgesic and other pharmaceutical applications. Herein, the nutraceuticals production and antioxidant potential in garden cultivated, in vitro cultured and two commercial samples (bags and granulated) of lemon balm was compared. The profile of in vitro cultured lemon balm is closer of garden cultivated sample than of both commercial samples (bag or granulate). It presented the highest levels of proteins and ash, and the lowest energetic value. The most favourable n6/n3 ration, as also the highest PUFA (mostly α-linolenic acid), tocopherols (including α-, γ-and δ-isoforms) and ascorbic acid contents were also observed in this sample. Nevertheless, it was the commercial bag lemon balm that gave the highest antioxidant activity and the highest levels of phenolics and flavonoids. As far as we kwon, this is the first comparison of nutraceuticals and antioxidant potential of cultivated, in vitro cultured and commercial lemon balm samples. Moreover, it proved that in vitro culture might be used to stimulate vitamins production.

Suitability of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) extract rich in rosmarinic acid as a potential enhancer of functional properties in cupcakes

“…Considering the results obtained in four distinct assays (Table 1), the strong antioxidant activity of ERA is obvious, especially concerning TBARS formation inhibition (EC 50 = 25 ± 2 μg/ml extract), reducing power (EC 50 = 49 ± 1 μg/ml extract) and DPPH scavenging activity (EC 50 = 79 ± 2 μg/ml extract), which is in line with previously obtained results Dias, Barros, Sousa, & Ferreira, 2012;Kamdem et al, 2013;Pereira et al, 2015;Pereira et al, 2017).…”

Melissa officinalis L. decoctions as functional beverages: a bioactive approach and chemical characterization

“…As expected, the quantity of γ-tocopherol found in these decoctions was lower than the one reported in a previous study with garden cultivated, in vitro cultured, commercial bag and granulated M. officinalis plants (results expressed in dry weight and after extraction with non-polar solvents); this is certainly related with the lower extractability of these compounds using water. 36 …”

“…These differences could be explained by the different underlying mechanisms involved in each type of the antioxidant reaction and the interaction between radical and antioxidant species. 37 To obtain a better overview of the antioxidant power of the studied decoctions, for the DPPH and reducing power assays, they yielded higher activity (lower EC 50 values) than the methanolic extracts of M. officinalis 36 and Chenopodium ambrosioides L., 9 infusions of Cynara scolymus L., C. ambrosioides, 9 Silybum marianum (L.)…”

Melissa officinalisL. ethanolic extract inhibits the growth of a lung cancer cell line by interfering with the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis

“…In addition, it is constituted of glucose (the most abundant sugar) and vitamins E and C, which have important activity as inactivators of free radicals. 13 The cell growth inhibitory potential of Melissa officinalis was previously studied in some human tumor cell lines. However, the cellular mechanism responsible for its cell growth inhibitory potential has never been studied.…”