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\"In May of 2001, the author and his wife and father were stranded overnight on Mount Evans during a freak late-spring blizzard. Melissa punched through snow into a creek and ended up spending the night out in the cold, with her feet bare. She suffered severe frostbite on both feet and had to have eight of her toes amputated. This is the never-before published full account of this accident and their rescue from the mountains, as well as numerous other adventures in the mountains including: the author's successful quest to complete all 54 Colorado 14ers; climbs of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Grand Teton, Denali, and Ecuador's Antisana and Cotopaxi\"--Publisher's website.

Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ) is a vital industrial and medicinal plant widely utilized in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries due to its rich bioactive metabolites, including terpenoids and phenolic compounds, as well as its diverse therapeutic properties. This study examined the effects of silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs; 300 mg/L foliar spray), superabsorbent polymer (SAP; 1 g/kg soil), and drought stress (75% field capacity) on the phytochemical, physiological, and growth parameters of lemon balm under greenhouse conditions. Conducted over 2023–2024 at Arak University’s medicinal plants department, the experiment followed a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replicates. Drought stress significantly reduced chlorophyll *a* (0.74 mg/gFW) and total chlorophyll content (1.00 mg/gFW), while Si-NPs and SAP mitigated these effects by enhancing chlorophyll levels, stem height, and diameter while reducing electrolyte leakage and proline accumulation. Conversely, drought stress elevated electrolyte leakage (32.45%) and proline (1.26 µmol/gFW). The combined Si-NP and SAP treatment yielded the highest flavonoid concentrations (6.76 mg QE/g DW) and antioxidant activity (59.37%). Notably, Si-NPs and SAP alleviated drought-induced morphological and physiological impairments. Essential oil content peaked (0.29%) under drought stress, with geranial and neral identified as primary constituents. The control and SAP treatments produced the highest geranial content (51.53%), whereas SAP alone maximized neral (34.95%). Si-NPs elevated linalool acetate (5.71%), and drought stress increased isopulegol (11.16%). These findings demonstrate the efficacy of Si-NPs and SAP in enhancing lemon balm’s drought tolerance and phytochemical yield.

The application of caffeic acid (CA) and its nano-composite form (CA-NCs) has great promise for improving growth and abiotic stress tolerance because of the nano-composite formulation’s higher stability, bioavailability, and targeting. Limited research exists on caffeic acid nanocomposites in salinity-sensitive M. officinalis , with unexplored comparative efficacy against free caffeic acid in regulating photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment, and antioxidant activity. Thus, we assessed the potential of CA-NCs on growth and stress tolerance in Melissa officinalis grown during salinity compared to the free form of CA. The CA-NCs were synthesized and characterized through FTIR, TGA, and SEM analyses. CA-NCs demonstrated superior efficacy over free CA in mitigating NaCl stress in plants. Characterization confirmed their small size (99.8 nm), enhancing stability and bioavailability. Under salt stress, CA-NCs significantly improved root and shoot biomass, photosynthetic efficiency, and chlorophyll content. They effectively modulated osmotic stress by regulating relative water content and proline, while strongly reducing oxidative damage markers (MDA, H₂O₂). CA-NCs also boosted the activity of antioxidant enzymes and promoted the synthesis of protective secondary metabolites like flavonoids and anthocyanins. These synergistic effects highlight CA-NCs as a highly promising agricultural tool for enhancing plant growth and abiotic stress tolerance.

We conducted a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind 24-week trial using Melissa officinalis ( M. officinalis ) extract richly containing rosmarinic acid (RA) on patients with mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with the aim to examine the safety and tolerability (primary endpoint) of RA (500 mg daily) and its clinical effects and disease-related biomarker changes (secondary endpoints). Patients ( n  = 23) diagnosed with mild dementia due to probable AD were randomized to either the placebo or M. officinalis extract group. No differences in vital signs or physical and neurologic examination results were detected between the M. officinalis and placebo groups. No serious adverse events occurred. There were no significant differences in cognitive measures; however, the mean Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) score improved by 0.5 points in the M. officinalis group and worsened by 0.7 points in the placebo group between the baseline and 24-week visit, indicating a significant difference ( P  = 0.012). No significant differences were apparent in disease-related biomarkers between the groups. M. officinalis extract containing 500 mg of RA taken daily was safe and well-tolerated by patients with mild dementia due to AD. Our results suggest that RA may help prevent the worsening of AD-related neuropsychiatric symptoms. Trial registration: The registration number for this clinical trial is UMIN000007734 (16/04/2012).

Amine-rich compounds play a pivotal role in plant metabolism, influencing growth, development, and defense mechanisms. Among these, polyamines such as putrescine have gained attention for their ability to enhance plant resilience and stimulate the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. This study investigates the impact of foliar-applied putrescine on the essential oil yield and composition, and on the accumulation of phenolic compounds in Melissa officinalis , as well as on its antioxidant properties. Putrescine was applied at four concentrations: a control (no treatment) and three treatment levels (500 mg/L, 1000 mg/L, and 1500 mg/L) across five independent trials. Putrescine application significantly improved the phytochemical profile and antioxidant capacity of M. officinalis . The predominant essential oil constituents in treated plants were geranial (40.96%), neral (27.71%), caryophyllene oxide (6.00%), geranyl acetate (4.24%), and trans-thujone (2.78%). Notably, the 500 mg/L treatment led to a remarkable increase in phenolic content, particularly catechin, rosmarinic acid, and coumarin levels, reinforcing its potential as a natural elicitor. These findings underscore the potential of putrescine as an effective bio stimulant for enhancing both the yield and quality of medicinal and aromatic plants. By improving essential oil composition and boosting antioxidant compounds, putrescine application presents a promising strategy for optimizing the cultivation of M. officinalis . This approach offers valuable implications for the food and agricultural industries, supporting the development of high-value medicinal plants with enhanced functional properties.

Melissa officinalis is a medicinal plant rich in biologically active compounds which is used worldwide for its therapeutic effects. Chemical studies on its composition have shown that it contains mainly flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and essential oil. The main active constituents of Melissa officinalis are volatile compounds (geranial, neral, citronellal and geraniol), triterpenes (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid), phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid), and flavonoids (quercetin, rhamnocitrin, and luteolin). According to the biological studies, the essential oil and extracts of Melissa officinalis have active compounds that determine many pharmacological effects with potential medical uses. A new field of research has led to the development of controlled release systems with active substances from plants. Therefore, the essential oil or extract of Melissa officinalis has become a major target to be incorporated into various controlled release systems which allow a sustained delivery.

Melissa officinalis , commonly known as lemon balm, is vulnerable to drought stress and pathogenic diseases, including those caused by Fusarium species, which can significantly affect the plant’s growth and yield. This study investigated the potential of Funneliformis mosseae (Fm), Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri), and a combined inoculation (FmRi) to manage drought and Fusarium culmorum infection in lemon balm under greenhouse conditions using a completely randomized factorial design with three replications. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation reduced disease severity caused by F. culmorum in leaves by 45.92% in Fm, 15.5% in Ri, and 21.34% in FmRi and in roots by 45.95% in Fm, 10% in Ri, and 12.78% in FmRi. However, higher drought levels, especially 25% pot capacity (25% PC), increased disease incidence (by 45%) compared to diseased plants without drought stress. Despite pathogen and drought stress, mycorrhizal symbiosis increased biomass production and photosynthetic pigment content in lemon balm. It also helped maintain higher relative water content (RWC%) in Fm-inoculated plants under 25% PC and pathogen stress, showing an increase of 13% compared with non-inoculated stressed plants. Furthermore, AMFs colonization declined hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and malondialdehyde (MDA) production, indicating mitigation of oxidative stress and also, improved antioxidant enzymes activity in lemon balm under combined drought and pathogen stress. Concurrently, antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly enhanced in AMF-treated plants under stress conditions. Notably, Fm inoculation led to a significant increase in rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B accumulation by 1.55-, and 2.53-fold, respectively. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) further confirmed that mycorrhizal colonization effectively mitigated damage caused by drought stress and F. culmorum infection (whether individually or combined) by increasing RWC and chlorophyll levels, detoxifying oxidative stress markers, and promoting the accumulation of rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that mycorrhizal inoculation, particularly Fm, enhances the tolerance of lemon balm plants to drought and F. culmorum . This is achieved through boosting plant yield and RWC, suppression of oxidative damage, improving the antioxidant defense mechanisms, and increasing specific phenolic acids levels, ultimately contributing to improved plant health and productivity.

Background/Aims: Behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD) are frequent in people with Alzheimer’s disease and cause considerable stress to patients and their carers. Antipsychotics have been widely used as a first-line treatment, resulting in an estimated 1,800 excess strokes and 1,600 excess deaths in the UK alone. Safe and effective alternatives are urgently needed. Based upon preliminary evidence from clinical trials, aromatherapy with melissa oil may be such an alternative, but initial studies have been modest in size, and adequate blinding has been problematic. Our objective was to assess the efficacy of melissa aromatherapy in the treatment of agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease in an adequately powered and robustly blinded randomized controlled trial comparing it with donepezil, an anticholinesterase drug used with some benefit to treat BPSD. Methods and Findings: The study was a double-blind parallel-group placebo-controlled randomized trial across 3 specialist old age psychiatry centres in England. Participants had probable or possible Alzheimer’s disease, were resident in a care home, had clinically significant agitation (defined as a score of 39 or above on the Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory) and were free of antipsychotics and/or anticholinesterase for at least 2 weeks. Participants were allocated to 1 of 3 groups: placebo medication and active aromatherapy; active medication and placebo aromatherapy or placebo of both. Main Outcome: The primary outcome measure was reduction in agitation as assessed by the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS) at 4 weeks. This is an observational scale, and raters were required to wear nose clips to ensure that full blinding was maintained. The PAS, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI; another measure of BPSD) and other outcome measures were completed at baseline, 4-week and 12-week follow-ups. 114 participants were randomized, of whom 94 completed the week 4 assessment and 81 completed the week 12 assessment. Aromatherapy and donepezil were well tolerated. There were no significant differences between aromatherapy, donepezil and placebo at week 4 and week 12, but importantly there were substantial improvements in all 3 groups with an 18% improvement in the PAS and a 37% improvement in the NPI over 12 weeks. Conclusion: When assessed using a rigorous design which ensures blinding of treatment arms, there is no evidence that melissa aromatherapy is superior to placebo or donepezil, in the treatment of agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease. However, the sizeable improvement in the placebo group emphasizes the potential non-specific benefits of touch and interaction in the treatment of agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Background Light is essential for producing high-quality plants. The advancement of light-emitting diode technology has unlocked new opportunities for growing plants in controlled settings. In this study, the effects of light-emitting diodes priming and drought stress on some physiological and biochemical parameters were studied in two Melissa officinalis genotypes (Ilam and Isfahan) one and three weeks after drought stress. The experiments were conducted in a factorial arrangement within a completely randomized design with three replications. Results Drought stress reduced growth indicators such as fresh and dry weights of aerial parts, leaf number, and relative water content. Light-emitting diode priming relieved such reductions in both genotypes. The accumulation of phenolic compounds, anthocyanin, and levels of proline, along with the activity of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, increased under drought stress, with the maximum increase achieved under red + blue and blue light-emitting diode light-primed plants. Especially in the Ilam genotype, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activities and the accumulation of phenolic compounds were remarkably enhanced by the use of red + blue light-emitting diode light. Also, abscisic acid showed higher values under drought stress and the highest in pre-treatments with red + blue and red light-emitting diodes. Conclusion The effects of different treatments on the physiological indices showed that drought tolerance in Melissa officinalis was improved due to the priming of red + blue light-emitting diode in both genotypes. Thus, our results emphasized the use of light-emitting diode priming as a useful method to enhance the drought resistance of medicinal plants.