As an herbal extract (ALS-L1023) from lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) inhibits angiogenesis, this study investigated if ALS-L1023 could suppress visceral obesity and insulin resistance in obese female mice, a mouse model of obesity.

The mice were fed for 16 weeks with: 1) low-fat diet (LFD), 2) high-fat diet (HFD), or 3) HFD supplemented with 0.4 or 0.8% ALS-L1023.

The findings indicate that the herbal extract ALS-L1023 from lemon balm inhibits visceral obesity, and attenuates the increased fasting blood glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and pancreatic dysfunction seen in female obese mice.

These results suggest that ALS-L1023 may be effective in the prevention of visceral obesity and insulin resistance in obese premenopausal women.

Lee D, Shin Y, Jang J, Park Y, Ahn J, Jeong S, Shin SS, Yoon M. The herbal extract ALS-L1023 from Melissa officinalis alleviates visceral obesity and insulin resistance in obese female C57BL/6J mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 May 10;253:112646.