Phytochemical composition of wild lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) from the flora of Bulgaria

This study aimed to identify the chemical composition (ash, cellulose, total chlorophylls, carotenoid, and essential oil (EO) content), antioxidant activity, mineral of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L) obtained from Bulgaria. The EO was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). major constituents were caryophyllene oxide (33.99%), n-hexadecanoic acid (14.28%), α-citral (6.62%), (5E,9E)-farnesyl acetone (5.00%), β-caryophyllene (4.82%), (2E,6Z)-farnesal (4.56%), (5E,9Z)-farnesyl (4.16%), β-citral (3.98%), γ-eudesmol (3.13%). potential assessed DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl) free radical, ferric reducing power assay (FRAP), TEAC assay, determination hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity superoxide methods. phenol content Folin-Ciocalteu method. flavonoid amount extracts determined by optimizing aluminum chloride colorimetric phenolic content, composition, leaves included 184.33 mg GAE g-1, 12.65 QE 62.83 μg ml-1, respectively. Mineral heavy metal contents iCAP-Qc ICP-MS spectrometer. highest amounts macro microminerals for K, Ca, Mg, Sr, Rb, Ba, Mn, Fe,