Evaluation of intraspecific variability of biologically active compounds of Melissa officinalis

Melissa officinalis L. has been used in the traditional medicine for therapeutic properties [1]. Intraspecific chemical variability of five lemon balm cultivars (Gold Leaf, Lemona, Lorelei, Soroksári and Quedlinburger Niederliegende) were compared concerning essential oil content, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, rosmarinic acid content and antioxidant activity [2]. It was established the investigated genotypes represent different chemical qualities and there is a considerable intraspecific diversity in the mentioned characteristics. Samples of Lemona presented the highest essential oil content (0.298 mg/g DW) while Soroksári showed the lowest (0.067 mg/g DW). Total phenolic content of extracts ranged between 359 mg GAE/g DW ('Lorelei') and 426 mg GAE g/DW ('Gold leaf'). However, Lorelei showed outranging levels of total flavonoid content (0.948 mg QE/g DW) exceeding the value of the lowest one in Quedlinburger Niederlegende (0.570 mgQE/g DW). Rosmarinic acid being the highest in Lorelei (3.01 mg/g DW) and the lowest in Lemona (2.42 mg/g DW). The antioxidant capacity of the samples indicated the highest activity (309.1/mgASE/g DW) for Soroksári and 258.9/mgASE/gDW for Lemona. Our study showed that proper definition of biological raw material is necessary for obtaining pharmaceutical products of standard quality.

References:

[1] Dastmalchi K., Dorman HJD, Oinonen PP, Darwis Y, Laakso I, Hiltunen R. Chemical composition and in vitro antioxidative activity of a lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) extract. Food Sci Technol – Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft und Technologie 2008; 41: 391 – 400

[2] Benzie IFF, Strain JJ. Ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay: direct measure of total antioxidant activity of biological fluids and modified version for simultaneous measurement of total antioxidant power and ascorbic acid concentration. Method Enzymol 1999; 299: 15 – 27