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age-related cognitive deficits and Alzheimer’sdisease may be related to low acetylcholinelevels.5

Modern research has shown that selectedMelissa officinalis varieties and breeding linessupport new applications for lemon balm oncognitive performance based on cholinergicreceptor binding properties.6,7 It seems as if thetraditional use of lemon balm for relaxation issupported by all varieties; however, thebeneficial effects on cognitive performancecould not be confirmed for all of the lemonbalm varieties investigated. Published humanstudies report that extracts with the samephytochemical specification obtained fromdifferent varieties did not show the samebeneficial cognitive effects.8 This indicates thatthe well-established method of standardizinglemon balm extracts based on rosmarinic acidas the main active compound may notrepresent the whole range of active principles,particularly not those contributing to cognitiveperformance.

Consumers are more frequently looking fornatural support to cope with the daily demandsof a high workload, stress and family issues in acool-headed, focused and structured waywithout compromising their long-term health.Sybille Buchwald-Werner, Managing Directorof Vital Solutions GmbH, explains how anextract derived from a special Melissa officinalisbreeding line can support cognitiveperformance.

CONSUMER NEEDS

Approximately 32% of consumers take dietarysupplements or functional foods that areknown to improve brain function. The mostfrequent users of mental health supplementsare aged between 18 and 25 years and olderthan 45. Whereas the 45+ population preferssupplements, the younger consumer grouptends to select functional foods in the form ofbeverages, shots or bars, helping them toenhance their memory and mental focus whileon the move.1 American and European studiesshow that students use soft, neuroenhancer-likeenergy drinks and even prescription drugs toboost their cognitive performance.2

In addition to the desire to improvecognitive functions such as alertness,concentration and working memory ondemand, for example, 62% of consumersbelieve that supplements and/or functionalfoods and drinks can be effective in delayingnormal age-related memory loss. “Retainingmental sharpness as I age” is a number onehealth concern.1 Despite significant consumerdemand, brain supplements represent agrowing yet relatively small health category.For example, the heart health supplementcategory is four times the size of the brainhealth category.3 The market is looking forproduct innovation with scientifically provencognitive and mental health benefits.

LEMON BALM EXTRACT

FOR COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE

Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, is an annualedible herb that’s native to Europe. Itstraditional medical applications focus on theessential oil components of the plant and onrosmarinic acid for relaxation properties.Studies showed that the traditional relaxingeffects may be linked to elevated levels of theneurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)by inhibiting GABA-transaminase (GABA T),an enzyme that degrades GABA. Rosmarinicacid is thought to be responsible for this effect.4

In addition, it is also known thatrosmarinic acid is able to inhibit theenzyme, acetylcholinesterase,which degrades theneurotransmitteracetylcholine. Studieshave shown that

Being smart is the only way to keep up in ourperformance-based society!

cognitive health

LEMON BALM:THE SMART WAYTO COGNITIVEHEALTH

Approximately32% of consumerstake dietarysupplements orfunctional foodsto improve brainfunction

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cognitive health

Vital Solutions’ research and extensive know-how in natural products has enabledthem to identify a special lemon balm breedingline that supports cognitive effects, particularlyalertness and memory. To confirm thesebeneficial cognitive effects, all critical processpoints, from the selection of the raw material tothe release of a batch, are controlled by aninnovative bioassay guided technology as wellas by traditional phytochemical parameters.The resulting lemon balm extract is marketedunder the brand name Bluenesse. Bluenesse isstandardized according to muscarinic receptorbinding activity and rosmarinic acid content,introducing a new dimension in quality controland bridging the gap between a traditionalEuropean herb and innovative bioassay guidedtechnologies. Bluenesse is an exclusive Melissaofficinalis extract developed to supportcognitive performance and mental health.Figure 1 summarizes of the different mode ofactions of Bluenesse on mental health.

HUMAN STUDY RESULTS

Bluenesse has been scientifically substantiatedwith human study results. The main humanstudy was conducted by Prof. Scholey of theBrain Science Institute, Swinburne University,Australia. Prof. Scholey is a well-known experton brain health and has focused his research onlemon balm. The aim of the study was toevaluate the effects of the lemon balm extracton cognitive performance under mild stress,comparable with a general multitaskingenvironment (which most consumersexperience every day). The investigationincluded parameters to evaluate cognitiveperformance, physiological reaction of stressand mood. It was a double-blind, randomized,placebo-controlled, balanced-crossover,monocentric study involving 25 healthy people.The lemon balm extract was tested inconcentrations of 300 and 600 mg. Studyresults demonstrated that, one hour afterconsuming a 300 mg dosage, significantbeneficial effects on alertness, working memoryand word recall, cortisol reduction as a markerfor stress and reduced anxiety could bedetected. The effects were still measurable3 hours after intake (Table I).

CONCLUSION

Bluenesse is an exclusive Melissa officinalisextract developed to support cognitiveperformance and mental health, as well asreduce the long-term negative physiologicaleffects of stress for overall health. It uniquelycombines calming and alertness-increasingeffects, providing the ability to deal withcomplex situations, from a high workload tofamily issues, in a cool-headed, focused andstructured way. Bluenesse is a high quality,sustainable, natural food ingredient, which is IPprotected and approved for use in dietarysupplements and foods in Europe and the US.Bluenesse has a pleasant taste and is watersoluble. It can be used in food supplements aswell as in foods and beverages.

REFERENCES1. Sloan Trends Incorporated, Getting Ahead of the Curve: Mental

Performance and Brain Health, 2010 (http://beta.rodpub.com/uploads/

May%2010.pdf).

2. L.J. Maier, et al., “To Dope or Not to Dope: Neuroenhancement with

Prescription Drugs and Drugs of Abuse among Swiss University

Students,” PLOS ONE 8(11), e77967 (2013).

3. T. Runestad,“Rethinking Brain Health,” Natural Foods Merchandiser:

http://newhope360.com/print/supplements/rethinking-brain-health.

4. R. Awad, et al., “Bioassay Guided Fractionation of Lemon Balm

(Melissa officinalis L.) Using an In Vitro Measure of GABA

Transaminase Activity,” Phytotherapy Research 23(8), 1075–1081

(2009).

5. K. Dastmalchi, et al., “Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Guided

Fractionation of Melissa officinalis L.,” Bioorg Med. Chemistry 17(2),

867–871 (2009).

6. H. Schroeter, et al., “Phenolic Antioxidants Attenuate Neuronal Cell

Death Following Uptake of Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein,” Free

Radical Biological Medicine 29(12), 1222–1233 (2000).

7. G. Wake, et al., “CNS Acetylcholine Receptor Activity in European

Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used to Improve Failing Memory,” J.

Ethnopharmacol. 69(2), 105–114 (2000).

8. D. Kennedy, “The Psychopharmacology of European Herbs with

Cognitive-Enhancing Properties,” Curr. Pharm. Des. 12(35), 4613–4623

(2006).

Figure 1: Bluenesse effects on mental health

FOR MOREINFORMATIONDr Sybille Buchwald-

Werner

Founder and Managing

Director

Vital Solutions GmbH

Sybille.Buchwald-

Werner@vitalsolutions.

biz

Tel. +49 2173 1098 202

www.vitalsolutions.biz

TABLE I: SUMMARY OF BLUENESSE MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTS

In vitro and human studies, as well as phytochemical investigation, confirmed that

Bluenesse supports

• alertness/concentration/mental focus

• working memory

• a calm, positive mood

• ability to cope of occasional stress

• improvement of age-related cognitive impairment.

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