Lemon balm 397
lemon balm may therefore have a potential as a weed control in organic agriculture
systems where only organic substances are allowed. However, for commercial use,
much work should be carried out. Moreover, lemon balm extract also has an insecticidal
activity and causes a significant reduction in the growth of the cotton worm (Spodoptera
littoralis) larvae population (Pavela, 2004).
23.6 Quality issues..................................................................................
Medicinal and aromatic plants such as lemon balm are traditionally harvested from
flora or cultivated field, dried and then stored until required for use. The quality of
lemon balm has traditionally been based on appearance. However, efficacy of the raw
material in many herbs varies, dependent on species and even different parts of the
same species, not to mention cultural applications and harvesting time. In addition,
value-added products, where plant appearance has been destroyed, make impossible
visual assessments for species identification. These processed products can range
from ground-dried raw material to liquid or solid extracts or capsules including a
formulation, sometimes containing more than one herb. As such products cannot be
detected with organoleptic techniques, chromatographic techniques such gas
chromatography or HPLC can be employed for identification. Setting chemical quality
standards has progressed slowly because of a lack of conclusive clinical evidence for
the activity of specific compounds, multiple active constituents, synergistic effects,
and the reluctance of some health authorities to agree on recognition of medicinal
herbs as valid therapeutic agents (Wills et al., 2000). Some standards and specifications
for raw material and essential oil of lemon balm are presented in Table 23.1.
23.7 References.......................................................................................
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indicators in the blood of calves’, Medycyna Weterynaryjna, 58(6), 464–466.
BOZAN B (1995), ESOP and therapy with plants in Europe, Anadolu University, Research Centre of
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Medicine, TAB Bulletin, 11.
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Lamiaceae species’, Food Chemistry, 93, 223–226.
CARNAT AP, CARNAT A, FRAISSE D and LAMAISON JL (1998), ‘The aromatic and polyphenolic composition
of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L. subsp. officinalis) tea’, Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetiae, 72,
301–305.
CEYLAN A, BAYRAM E and OZAY N (1994), ‘Investigations on agronomic and technological characteristics
of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.)’, Turkish Journal of Agricultural and Forestry, 18,
125–130.