The product has been designed to support sleep and mental well-being, an increasingly important and fast growing consumer area, Elena Fava, international product manager at PharmExtracta SpA, told NutraIngredients.
Meloff is formulated with Relissa, a standardized extract of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) that uses Indena’s proprietary Phytosome technology to enhance the extract’s bioavailability and biological activity, allowing the natural compounds in lemon balm to perform more effectively without altering their natural profile.
Lemon balm leaves are well recognized as a traditional sleep aid, mostly due to hydroxycinnamic and rosmarinic acids and their derivatives. However, research has shown that rosmarinic acid’s bioaccessibility is limited, which can affect the effectiveness of lemon balm.
Indena’s technology uses phospholipid-based molecules to improve dispersion in gastrointestinal fluids, enhancing the bioaccessibility of active ingredients. The goal is to ensure that the beneficial compounds in Mellissa officinalis deliver superior biological performance while preserving their natural profile.
Scientific backing
Research has shown that Meloff significantly improves sleep quality and duration by reducing the severity of insomnia. A recent study published in Nutrients reported that Melissa officinalis Phytosome (MOP) significantly improved insomnia severity scores and increased slow-wave sleep, which was linked to better daytime functioning and memory. Moreover, 87% of participants reported subjective improvements in sleep quality compared to 30% in the placebo group.
As Fava explained, Meloff works through multiple biological pathways. It inhibits gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T), an enzyme that lowers levels of GABA, the brain’s primary calming neurotransmitter, and also inhibits monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), an enzyme responsible for breaking down serotonin and dopamine, two key neurotransmitters involved in emotional balance.
It also increases the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein essential for brain plasticity and stress adaptation, and it has been found to help reduce oxidative stress, a known contributor to emotional imbalance and sleep disruption.
Target demographic
Recent data from Lumina Intelligence found that in 6,000 surveyed respondents across the United States, Europe and Asia, 54% cited ‘getting better sleep’ as a health goal, ranking as the top health priority above ‘aging in good health and longevity’ and ‘managing stress’.
“Today’s world places intense demands on emotional resilience and sleep,” Fava said. “We see growing numbers of adults, especially between 25 and 55, struggling with stress and restlessness while actively seeking natural, evidence-based alternatives to pharmacological sleep aids.
“This demographic prioritizes scientifically validated products that are natural yet advanced in formulation, integrating seamlessly into their wellness routines.”
In announcing their decision, the panel of expert judges remarked: “Despite having been on the market for less than a year, Meloff stood out from the other entries for having clinical data on the actual product and documented benefits for sleep and mental health, both of which are increasingly important categories for consumers.”
Winning an NI Award
Fava said that submitting Meloff to the NI Awards represented a statement of confidence in the formulation, the clinical evidence and the long-term vision for the product. She also noted that winning the award allowed PharmExtracta to “gain visibility with stakeholders across the value chain, from healthcare professionals to commercial partners, in a context of international credibility”.
“The NutraIngredients Awards represent one of the most prestigious recognitions in the nutraceutical sector,” she said. “It is an industry benchmark for both scientific rigor and commercial innovation.”