Yes, lemon balm is water soluble.
Understanding Lemon Balm Solubility
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is known for its calming properties and pleasant citrusy scent. When it comes to extracting beneficial compounds from the plant, solubility in different solvents is a key factor. Solubility refers to the ability of a substance (solute) to dissolve in another substance (solvent).
Based on research, lemon balm extract obtained through water extraction is indeed soluble in water. This indicates that water is an effective solvent for drawing out many of the plant's components. The reference states directly: "The investigated lemon balm extract, obtained by water extraction, is soluble in water and has limited solubility in fat." (Source: 30-Oct-2014).
This property is important for several reasons:
- Traditional Use: Many traditional preparations of lemon balm, such as teas and infusions, involve steeping the leaves in hot water. The water solubility of key compounds allows them to be easily extracted into the drink.
- Extract Production: Water extraction is a common method used commercially to produce lemon balm extracts for supplements, flavorings, and other products. The high water solubility makes this method efficient for capturing desired plant constituents.
- Body Absorption: When consumed, water-soluble compounds are generally well-absorbed by the body.
Water vs. Fat Solubility
While lemon balm extract is soluble in water, the reference also notes it has limited solubility in fat. This distinction highlights that different compounds within the plant may have varying solubilities.
- Water-soluble compounds: These are typically polar molecules, such as certain phenolic acids, flavonoids, and rosmarinic acid, which is considered a key active compound in lemon balm. These dissolve readily in water.
- Fat-soluble compounds: These are non-polar molecules, such as essential oils (like citral, citronellal, and geraniol). While lemon balm contains essential oils, the reference suggests that extracts obtained specifically by water extraction have limited fat solubility, implying that water primarily extracts the water-soluble components. Methods using alcohol or oils would likely extract more of the fat-soluble compounds.
Practical Applications of Water Solubility
The water solubility of lemon balm is fundamental to its common uses:
- Herbal Teas: Creating a soothing lemon balm tea involves simply adding hot water to the leaves. The water dissolves and extracts the beneficial compounds.
- Infusions: Similar to teas, infusions use water to extract properties from the plant, often for longer periods or with more plant material for a stronger concentration.
- Water-Based Extracts: Many commercial liquid extracts, tinctures, and supplements utilize water or a water-alcohol blend to harness the water-soluble benefits of lemon balm.
In summary, the solubility of lemon balm in water, as confirmed by research, is a key characteristic that enables its widespread use in various forms, particularly teas, infusions, and water-based extracts.
