Light yellow Lemon Balm Extract 5% & 10% Rosmarinic Acid powder from Melissa officinalis leaf

Lemon Balm Extract 5–10% Rosmarinic acid-type markers

Lemon balm extract is prepared from the leaves of Melissa officinalis, the lemon-scented mint-family herb, and not from lemon verbena, lemongrass or other plants that share the lemon name. Ethanol extraction takes up the phenolic acids of the leaf, and the liquor is dried to a light yellow powder.

The grade range is 5–10% rosmarinic acid by HPLC, and the primary grade is the 10% end. The powder is 80 mesh and slightly soluble in water. The 5% grade suits tea-style blends and drink powders, while the 10% grade carries a higher marker load for compact capsules and tablets.

SKU: BOT-STX-0054 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Ethanol Extracted, Gummies & Chews, Leaf & Herb, Lemon Balm, Polyphenols, Standardized Extracts

Rosmarinic Acid Standardization & Grades

Rosmarinic acid is an ester of caffeic acid with a phenyl-lactic acid, and it is the main phenolic acid of the leaf of lemon balm. It occurs across the mint family, in rosemary, sage, oregano and other herbs, so it is a chemical class marker and not a marker of one species. The lemon scent of the fresh herb comes from the volatile oil, with citral and citronellal as principal members, and the oil is largely lost in extraction, drying and spray processing. The botanical entity is Melissa officinalis L., a plant of the Lamiaceae, and the part used is the leaf.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
5% Rosmarinic Acid	HPLC	Tea-style blends and drink powders
10% Rosmarinic Acid	HPLC	Capsules and tablets with small fill

For lemon balm, for lemon balm, the two grades differ by a factor of two. For lemon balm, the 10% grade is a marker concentrate that supplies a defined load from a small fill. The 5% grade is closer to the leaf, with more of the flavonoid glycosides, sugars and chlorophyll-derived solids, so lemon balm extract at this level suits tea-style blends and drink powders. The leaf is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract, the Lemon Balm Extract Powder, as a milled leaf, the Lemon Balm Leaf Powder, and the marker is listed as the purified compound Rosmarinic Acid 98%. Lemon balm extract at 10% is the more concentrated of the two grades, and lemon balm extract at 5% is the fuller one. Lemon balm is a perennial herb with soft, crinkled leaves.

Rosmarinic Acid Analysis & Purity Risks

HPLC against a rosmarinic acid reference standard measures both grades. The caffeoyl group absorbs ultraviolet light strongly, so a UV detector gives a clean peak. A colorimetric polyphenol total would count every phenolic compound of the leaf, including caffeic acid and flavonoid glycosides, and it cannot be converted into an HPLC rosmarinic acid result.

The product name refers to rosmarinic acid-type markers, which means that related hydroxycinnamic acid esters appear in the chromatogram beside the named peak. Lemon balm leaf also contains caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and luteolin glycosides, and the pattern of these companions is a better check of identity than the rosmarinic acid figure alone.

Sample preparation must limit degradation. The powder is dissolved in a mildly acidic diluent, filtered and injected promptly, because rosmarinic acid is an ester that hydrolyzes in strong acid or alkali and oxidizes on standing in light. A prepared sample left at room temperature for long periods will show a falling peak and a rising caffeic acid peak.

Purity risks follow from naming and from the chemistry. Several unrelated plants carry the word lemon, among them lemon verbena, lemongrass and lemon thyme, and each has different chemistry. Because rosmarinic acid is common in the mint family, the figure for lemon balm can be reached with other leaves. A stated species, the leaf as the part and a companion-peak pattern are the first identity checks.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Melissa officinalis
Plant Part	Leaf & Herb
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Polyphenols
Common Name	Lemon Balm, Melissa
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Rosmarinic acid and related hydroxycinnamic acid esters
Primary Grade	10% Rosmarinic Acid (HPLC)
Available Grades	5% · 10% Rosmarinic Acid (HPLC)
Appearance	Light Yellow powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Slightly Soluble in Water
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)	≤5.0%
Total Ash	≤5.0%
Particle Size	80 mesh
Heavy Metals	Lead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
Microbiology	TPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life	24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Applications by Grade

10% Grade for Compact Capsules

The 10% grade puts the rosmarinic acid target into a small fill, which suits capsules and tablets. The light yellow powder is slightly soluble in water and hygroscopic, so fill in a dry room and keep a desiccant in the closure of the bottle.

10% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the 10% grade need a dry binder and a moisture-tolerant filler, because phenolic acid powders take up water and soften compacts. Keep the blend away from iron-bearing equipment, which darkens caffeic acid esters on contact.

5% Grade in Tea-Style Blends

Tea-style blends use the 5% grade with mint, chamomile or citrus peel. The powder is slightly soluble and gives a hazy, pale infusion with a mild herbal taste, so a filter bag or a note to stir keeps the cup uniform.

5% Grade in Drink Powders

Drink powders carry the 5% grade with citrus or herbal flavors. The lemon scent of the fresh herb is not retained in the extract, so a citrus flavor supplies the lemon note, and a thickener keeps the slightly soluble particles in suspension.

5% Grade in Gummy Premixes

Gummy premixes accept the 5% grade as a fine dispersion in warm syrup. Add it after the main cook and keep the hold short, since heat and high pH degrade the ester, and check that the gel color stays pale yellow.

10% Grade in Stick Packs

Stick packs carry the 10% grade at a small fill with a flow agent and a sweet carrier. For lemon balm, seal the packs in moisture-barrier film, because the powder clumps at the seal, and check the dissolved drink for haze at the target dose.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The extract is a light yellow powder with a faint, herbal odor and a mildly bitter, astringent taste. It is slightly soluble in water, and solutions are pale yellow and hazy. Rosmarinic acid is an ester and is sensitive to strong acid, alkali, heat, light and metal ions, and lemon balm extract darkens in high-pH bases and on contact with iron or copper. Neutral to mildly acidic systems keep color and profile more stable.

For lemon balm, for production, control humidity in weighing and filling, since the powder gains water and cakes. For lemon balm, sieve before blending to break up soft lumps, and pre-blend with a portion of the carrier. The 10% grade packs more densely than the 5% grade, and a fine flow aid helps it pass through hoppers and feeders.

In liquids, wet the powder with a small amount of alcohol or a surfactant solution before dilution, and mix at high shear. A cool, dry store in a sealed liner keeps the powder free-flowing, and a sample from each lot tested again near the end of shelf life shows whether the packaging holds the marker figure.

Lemon balm extract has lost most of the lemon scent of the fresh herb, so a citrus flavor is added when the lemon note is wanted, and the flavor trial should be run with the actual dose of the extract.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports product evaluation, formulation trials, commercial orders, and ongoing ingredient supply. Packaging, storage, and shipping arrangements are determined by product characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	Typically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead Time	Typically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
Packaging	Suitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	Store in tightly sealed, suitable protective packaging in a cool, dry environment. Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Specific storage conditions follow the approved product specification.
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations (as applicable)

Final order quantities, lead times, packaging, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected product and commercial requirements.