Lemon balm is a traditional medicine used for its mood elevating effects. In animal studies, lemon balm has been shown to have significant antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. For example, in one study, mice were administered either lemon balm extract or a placebo, and then exposed to experimental stress. The researchers observed a significant reduction in anxious and depressive-like behaviors in the mice that were administered lemon balm extract. This supports other studies that show a clear mood elevating effect for lemon balm. The authors also tested the lemon balm for its ability to inhibit oxidative stress in the brains of the mice and in this regard found significant benefits, particularly through raised levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Lastly, the extracts of lemon balm also caused a decrease in the inflammation in the brains of the mice. The main phenolic compound in the lemon balms was observed to be rosmarinic acid, and this may have contributed to the beneficial effects seen.
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