Aegean academic’s project to introduce Melissa plant into the pharmaceutical sector.

Ege University Ödemiş Vocational School of Medical and Aromatic Plants Program, led by Dr. Faculty Member Merve Göre Akyüz, has been deemed eligible for support under the TÜBİTAK 1002 Rapid Support Program with the project titled “Effects of the Use of Organomineral and Organic Fertilizers on Some Agricultural Parameters in the Production of Melissa Officinalis.” The project aims to observe the effects of organic fertilizer use on the growth of the lemon balm plant and to introduce the plant into the pharmaceutical industry.

Ege University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Budak congratulated Dr. Faculty Member Merve Göre Akyüz and her team, stating, “As a result of the scientific ecosystem we have created at our university, the projects carried out by our academics continue to be recognized by TÜBİTAK. As a fully accredited research university, we rank at the top among universities that submit and have the most accepted projects to TÜBİTAK. With the project undertaken by Dr. Merve Göre Akyüz and her team, the lemon balm plant will be brought into the economy. I congratulate the project team and wish them continued success.”

Dr. Faculty Member Merve Göre Akyüz emphasized the growing importance of medical and aromatic plants, stating, “In today’s world, where the return to nature is increasing, the use of alternative organic materials applied to agricultural soils, as well as the use of medical and aromatic plants for various purposes, both in our country and worldwide, has rapidly increased and gained acceptance. Medical and aromatic plants are frequently used by people who prefer natural and alternative solutions. Therefore, the continuous addition of new active ingredients to known substances from medical and aromatic plants reveals additional new industrial uses such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, perfumes, dyes, spices, bioactivators, biopesticides, and herbal teas, increasing demand for these plants and creating a large market. Although many chemical-synthetic drugs have been developed today, plants remain the most important natural source for drugs to be used in treatment. In order to meet the increasing demand and market needs, the deterioration of agricultural soils and yield loss due to excess pesticide and chemical fertilizer applications, apart from ‘good production practices,’ are becoming a concern.”

“Organic fertilizers benefit both the environment and consumers”

Dr. Faculty Member Merve Göre Akyüz stated that the use of organic fertilizers is beneficial for both consumers and the environment, continuing: “The use of organic or organomineral fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers provides many advantages for consumers, producers, and the environment. Consumers believe that products grown without chemicals are healthier, tastier, and environmentally friendly. Organomineral and organic solid fertilizers help producers manage natural resources better, consume less energy, and reduce waste while improving soil quality, making the soil fertile and protecting water resources. For these reasons, the demand for such products is important not only for consumer health but also for environmental protection and sustainable agriculture.”

Dr. Faculty Member Göre Akyüz pointed out that the lemon balm plant is a good alternative for rosmarinic acid production, stating, “Rosmarinic acid, one of the bioactive compounds of the lemon balm plant, is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, rosmarinic acid is considered a component used to provide protection against infections and inflammation. It is particularly thought to be effective in treating insomnia, stress, anxiety, headaches, and digestive system issues due to nervousness. Additionally, rosmarinic acid is considered potentially beneficial for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Rosmarinic acid is an important phenolic acid in the Lamiaceae family, showing wide variations both within and between species. Currently, the demand for rosmarinic acid is mostly met by the rosemary plant. However, the fact that a large majority of rosemary is still collected from nature and the shrub form of the plant makes it unsuitable for mechanical harvesting, leading to agricultural difficulties. In contrast, the cultivation, processing, and care of the herbaceous structure of lemon balm is suitable for mechanical harvesting, and the combined harvesting of leaves and stems results in higher yields. For these reasons, lemon balm is positioned more advantageously for rosmarinic acid production.”

“Lemon balm will be produced for the first time in culture conditions for pharmaceutical raw material purposes”

Dr. Faculty Member Göre Akyüz stated, “There are limited studies worldwide on the effects of organomineral and organic fertilizers on the yield and quality parameters of lemon balm. With the prepared project, organomineral fertilizer will be used for the first time in lemon balm, and for the first time, changes in rosmarinic acid will be examined. The increasing demand for rosmarinic acid by the pharmaceutical industry will be evaluated in terms of meeting this demand with lemon balm and using lemon balm in rosmarinic acid production. Furthermore, the production of lemon balm in culture conditions related to the pharmaceutical active ingredient will be discussed for the first time.”