Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

improved memory scores.^26 Placebo-con-
trolled, double-blind randomized clinical
trials of topical lemon balm cream prepara-
tions (1% dried extract of the leaves) showed
significant benefits in the treatment of herpes
simplex.30,31

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Used in numerous European pharmaceutical
preparations as a carminative and mild tran-
quilizer; also used in cough drops oil more
often used as a component in perfumes; com-
monly used in lip balms.

Food. The monoterpene derivative citral,
composed of neral and geranial, is widely
used in cosmetics and foods to lend a lemon-
like aroma and flavor.^1 Balm extract and oil
are used in major categories of food products
such as alcoholic (bitters, vermouths, etc.)
and nonalcoholic beverages, frozen dairy
desserts, candy, baked goods, and gelatins
and puddings. Highest average maximum use
level reported is 0.5% of extract in baked
goods.

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Cut
and sifted herb, powdered herb, liquid and
dried extracts, infusions, tinctures, and so on,
used as mild sleep aid as well as a stomachic;

dried leaves used for tea in doses of 1.5–4.5 g

of the herb in infusion; often used in combi-

nation with other herbs (BLUMENTHAL1).

Traditional Medicine. Regarded in Euro-

pean folklore for the treatment of melan-

choly and for enhancing the memory; Greek

physicians used the plant to treat wounds

(GRIEVE) and in Iranian folk medicine lemon

balm is used in treating gastrointestinal dis-

orders and for analgesic, asntispasmodic,

sedative, diuretic, digestive, and carminitive

effects.^14

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Crude; extracts, and oil; oil is seldom unadul-

terated, (ARCTANDER). Crude formerly official

in U.S.P.

Regulatory Status. Regulated in the United

States as a dietary supplement; both lemon

balm (§182.10) and the essential oil, extrac-

tive, and solvent-free oleoresin are GRAS for

use in foods (§182.20). Formerly official in the

U.S.P. from 1840 to 1890. The leaves and

preparations thereof are the subject of a posi-

tive German therapeutic monograph, indicat-

ed for difficulty in falling asleep caused by

nervous conditions, and functional gastroin-

testinal symptoms (BLUMENTHAL1).

REFERENCES

See the General References forAPPLEQUIST;ARCTANDER;BARNES;BARRETT;BIANCHINI AND CORBETTA;
BLUMENTHAL1;DER MARDEROSIAN AND BEUTLER;FEMA;GOSSELIN;GRIEVE;GUENTHER;LUST;MARTINDALE;
MCGUFFIN1&2;ROSE;UPHOF;WICHTL;YOUNGKEN.

1. F. Enjalbert et al.,Fitoterapia, 54 ,59
   (1983).


2. N. Stankeviciene et al., Polez. Rast.
   Priblat. Respub. Beloruss., Mater.
   Nauch. Konf., 2 (1973), 264 (1973).


3. S. Kapetanovic and S. Dugumovic,Acta
   Pharm. Jugosl., 18 (304), 127 (1968).


4. F. W. Hefendehl, Arch. Pharm.
   (Weinheim), 303 , 345 (1970).
   5. H. Wagner and L. Sprinkmeyer,Dtsch.
   Apoth. Ztg., 113 , 1159 (1973).
   6. H. Thieme and C. Kitze,Pharmazie, 28 ,
   69 (1973).
   7. L. S. Kucera and E. C. Herrmann Jr.,Proc.
   Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 124 , 865 (1967).
   8. E. C. Herrmann Jr. and L. S. Kucera,
   Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 124 , 869
   (1967).

Balm, lemon 63