Content and composition of essential oil and content of rosmarinic acid in lemon balm and balm genotypes (Melissa officinalis)

• DOI: 10.1007/s10722-018-0635-4
• Publication Date: 2018-04-07T03:17:33Z
• Authors: J. Kittler; H. Krüger; D. Ulrich; B. Zeiger; W. Schütze; Ch. Böttcher; A. Krähmer; G. Gudi; U. Kästner; H. Heuberger; F. Marthe
• Keywords: Rosmarinic acid; Melissa Officinalis; Chemotype; Citral

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is used since ancient times because of its sedative, spasmolytic and antiviral effects. Its therapeutic impact due to the content essential oil rosmarinic acid. A set 68 M. genotypes was evaluated for composition For all level ploidy determined. The were clone plants grown two years at Quedlinburg. analysis secondary metabolites distillation, gas chromatography high performance liquid used. varied in this study ranges from 0.03 0.33% second cut 2010 0.01–0.35% 2011. acid ranged year 3.67 7.55% 2011 4.92 8.07%. Via statistical analyses chemotypes found: chemotype citral β-caryophyllene oxide. Ploidy determined cytotypes diploid 2n = 2x 32 (62 genotypes) triploid 3x 48 (6 genotypes).