Our extract of Melissa officinalis L. is featured in the article “Attenuation of neuroinflammation in microglia cells by extracts with high content of rosmarinic acid from in vitro cultured Melissa officinalis L. cells” published in the scientific magazine the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis.

The aim of the in-depth study was to test the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activity of the extract of Melissa officinalis L., evaluating its efficacy in reducing inflammation and neuroinflammation.

The technology: cell cultures for highly standardized phytocomplexes

In vitro cell cultures allow to obtain standardized extracts, free-from factors such as variability, climate, soil and cultivation techniques. Production through cell cultures is independent of seasonal variability and more sustainable in terms of water consumption, carbon footprint, pesticide or herbicide use. In addition, in non-food products production, cell cultures are more ethical, since the consumption of food agricultural land is not required for their development.

Through the selection of the appropriate culture medium, it was possible to obtain a cell line of Melissa officinalis L. with high rosmarinic acid content, with sustainable and safe characteristics due to the production process.

Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activity tested

Rosmarinic acid is the main bioactive component of Melissa officinalis L. extracts, as well as one of the most important and well-known natural antioxidant compounds, which possesses anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and neuroregenerative effects in different models of neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and chemical-induced neurotoxicity and oxidative stress.

Neuroinflammation is a critical physiological process responsible for the onset of many degenerative diseases of aging. The main cell type involved in this activity are microglia cells, which are deputed to maintain homeostasis in the CNS.

In the study, extract obtained from cells of Melissa officinalis L, containing a high concentration of rosmarinic acid, was shown to reduce neuroinflammation at the level of microglia cells, promoting their neuroprotective effects.

Learn more in the study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0731708522003909