Food compositions comprising lemon balm extracts
Disclosed are food compositions, comprising aqueous extracts of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) and/or its active principle rosmarinic acid. Methods of preparing a food composition, and of making a medicament, both methods comprising rosmarinic acid and/or aqueous extracts of Melissa officinalis , are also disclosed.
1. A method for increasing alertness and/or improving word recognition sensitivity in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a medicament comprising a water-based extract of Melissa officinalis and a pharmaceutical base, wherein the water-based extract of Melissa officinalis is present in an amount in the range of about 0.1 to about 50 g/L.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water-based extract of lemon balm is present in an amount in the range of about 2 to about 25 g/L.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding physiologically active fatty acids and/or sterols or sterol esters to the pharmaceutical base.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water-based extract of Melissa officinalis is micro-encapsulated.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical base is a liquid comprising about 1.8 grams/200 mL of the aqueous extract of Melissa officinalis.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient exhibits increased alertness and/or improved word recognition sensitivity up to about 6 hours after treatment.