It Is Important to Be Smart to Keep Pace with Our Performance-Based Society

Consumers are seeking natural support to manage daily demands—from excessive work pressure to family issues—while maintaining their long-term health without compromise. They want to do this in a calm, focused, and structured manner. Sybille Buchwald-Werner, Chief Executive Officer of Vital Solutions GmbH, explains how the essence of a proprietary Melissa officinalis cultivation line can support cognitive performance.

Consumer Needs

Approximately 32% of consumers use dietary supplements or functional foods known to enhance brain function. The most frequent users of mental health supplements are those aged 18-25 and over 45 years old. While the population over 45 prefers supplements, younger consumer groups opt for functional foods such as beverages, shots, or bars that help improve memory and mental focus [1]. Studies from America and Europe have shown that students use light neuroenhancers such as energy drinks and even prescription drugs to boost cognitive performance [2]. 62% of consumers, in addition to the desire to improve cognitive function, believe that, for example, on-demand alertness, concentration and working memory, supplements and/or functional foods and beverages can be effective in delaying age-related memory loss. "Maintaining mental sharpness as we age" is the number-one health concern [1]. Despite significant consumer demand, brain supplements remain a growing yet still small health category. Heart health supplements, for example, are four times the size of the brain health category [3]. The market is seeking product innovation with scientifically proven cognitive and mental health benefits.

Bluenesse®—A Unique Lemon Balm Extract for Cognitive Performance

Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, is an annual edible plant native to Europe. Its traditional medicinal applications focus on the plant's essential oil components and rosmarinic acid for its relaxing properties. Research has shown that traditional relaxing effects may be linked to elevated levels of the neurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) through inhibition of GABA transaminase (GABA-T), an enzyme that breaks down GABA. Rosmarinic acid is identified as responsible for this effect [4]. Additionally, rosmarinic acid is known to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Research has shown that age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease may be associated with low acetylcholine levels [5]. Modern research has demonstrated that selected Melissa officinalis varieties and cultivation lines support novel effects of lemon balm on cognitive performance based on cholinergic receptor mechanisms [6, 7]. Traditional use of lemon balm for relaxation appears to be supported across all varieties. However, the beneficial effects on cognitive performance have not been verified for all lemon balm species studied. Published human studies have reported that extracts with the same phytochemical specification derived from different species do not demonstrate the same beneficial cognitive effects [8]. This indicates that the well-known method of standardizing lemon balm extracts to rosmarinic acid as the main active component may not represent all active principles, particularly those that do not contribute to active cognitive performance. Vital Solutions' research and extensive knowledge of natural products have enabled them to identify a proprietary lemon balm cultivation line that specifically supports cognitive effects such as alertness and memory. To confirm these beneficial cognitive effects, all critical process points from raw material selection through batch release are controlled using both traditional phytochemical parameters and innovative bioanalysis-supported technology.

Table 1: Summary: Bluenesse® effects on mental health

The resulting proprietary lemon balm extract is marketed under the Bluenesse® brand. Bluenesse® is standardized on muscarinic receptor binding activity and rosmarinic acid content. Muscarinic receptor M1 binding properties were confirmed in an in vitro study by measuring muscarinic activity [9]. This advance represents a new dimension in quality control that bridges the gap between a traditional European plant and innovative bioanalysis-supported technologies. Bluenesse® is a proprietary Melissa officinalis extract developed to support cognitive performance and mental health. Figure 1 summarizes the different modes of action of Bluenesse® on mental health.

Bluenesse®—Human Study Results

Bluenesse® has been scientifically proven through various human study results. First, a pharmacokinetic study was conducted investigating plasma levels of rosmarinic acid, an active component of Bluenesse®. Study results showed that the peak plasma level of rosmarinic acid was determined between 0.5-1 hour, declined after 2 hours, and was eliminated after 6 hours [10]. Additionally, three nutritional studies were conducted by Prof. Scholey from the Brain Science Institute at Swinburne University in Australia. Prof. Scholey is a world-renowned expert in brain health and has focused his research on lemon balm. The studies aimed to evaluate the effect of lemon balm extract in food matrices on cognitive performance under mild stress—similar to the multitasking environment most consumers experience daily—and its effects on stress and mood physiological responses. The research included parameters to assess cognitive performance, stress responses, and mood physiological reactions. The studies were double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, balanced crossover, and single-center, involving 25 healthy individuals. Lemon balm extract was tested at 300 mg and 600 mg concentrations. Study results showed that intake of the 300 mg extract had significant beneficial effects one hour later on improved alertness, working memory, and word recall, as well as reduced cortisol and anxiety, which are markers of stress. Effects were still measurable three hours after intake [10, 11].

Conclusion

Bluenesse® is a proprietary Melissa officinalis extract developed to support cognitive performance and mental health, and to reduce the long-term negative physiological effects of stress on overall health. It uniquely combines calming and alertness-enhancing effects, providing the ability to manage complex situations in a focused and structured manner—from heavy workloads to family issues. Bluenesse® is a high-quality, sustainable, natural food ingredient that is patent-protected and approved for use in food supplements and foods in Europe and America. It has a pleasant taste and is water-soluble. It is applicable in foods and beverages as well as in food supplements. Bluenesse® is developed and marketed by Vital Solutions. Vital Solutions is an innovative and rapidly growing company specializing in the development and marketing of innovative, natural ingredients for use in nutritional supplements, functional foods, and foods.     Author: Sybille Buchwald-Werner Founder - Chief Executive Officer Vital Solutions GmbH             Compiled by: Gülfem Sultan Öztürk Pharmaceutical Division Technical Sales Engineer IMCD Turkey    

References [1] Market data summary by Sloan Trends Incorporated Getting Ahead of the Curve: Mental Performance & Brain Health, 2010. http://beta.rodpub.com/uploads/ May%2010.pdf [2] Maier L. J. 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] Runestad T., Rethinking brain health, Natural Foods Merchandiser, New Hope 360,http://newhope360.com/print/ supplements/rethinking-brain-health [4] Awad R. 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] Dastmalchi K. et al., Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory guided fractionation of Melissa officinalis L., Bioorg Med Cheistry., 17(2), 867–871, 2009. [6] Schroeter H. 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] Wake G. et al., CNS acetylcholine receptor activity in European medicinal plantstraditionally used to improve failing memory. J. of Ethno-Pharmacology, 69(2), 105–114, 2000. [8] Kennedy D.O. et al., The psychopharmacology of European herbs with cognitive- enhancing properties, Curr. Pharm. Des. 12(35), 4613–4623, 2006. [9] S. Buchwald-Werner et al., Investigation of a Melissa officinalis special extract on Cognition I, In vitro study on muscarinic properties, Agrofood Industry hi-tech, 26(1), 2015. [10] A. Scholey, et al., Anti-Stress Effects of Lemon Balm-Containing Foods, Nutrients, 6, 4805-4821, 2014. [11] A. Scholey, et al., Investigation of a Melissa officinalis special extract on Cognition II, Human study- Lemon balm extract administered in confectionary bars, Agrofood Industry hi-tech, 26(2), 2015.