Givaudan’s lemon balm extract Zensera sustains calmness clinically

Peer-reviewed research supports that Givaudan’s patent-pending lemon balm extract Zensera promotes calmness during stressful occasions to boost cognitive performance. 

Globally, Givaudan highlights that consumer concern about mental health remains high, with stress, anxiety, and sleep dominating the category.

However, the company notes that relaxation alone no longer meets the needs of today’s fast-paced consumer lifestyles. “People also seek solutions that help them stay focused, composed, and mentally sharp under pressure.”

“Zensera builds on many of the traditional uses of lemon balm. It was developed through a reverse engineering process utilizing high-throughput screening,” Romain le Cozannet, Ph.D., Mind & Energy Category technical leader at Givaudan, tells Nutrition Insight.

The ingredient is optimized to enhance gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity by activating GABA receptors and inhibiting GABA transaminase, helping to support cognitive performance during stressful times. “Its unique extract profile has been clinically validated,” adds Le Cozannet.

“Zensera has a low dosage and a lighter taste than typical lemon balm, making it an excellent choice for powdered and ready-to-drink beverages, as well as traditional dietary supplement applications. It also performs well in innovative nutraceutical formats, such as gummies and chocolate.”

Acute mood and cognition effects

In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study involving 106 healthy young adults with moderate stress, researchers evaluated the acute effects of Zensera on mood and cognitive performance.

Participants were assessed at multiple points during the day following periods of high cognitive demand.

The results published in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology reveal that at five hours post-consumption, subjects demonstrated better performance on the most demanding cognitive challenges compared to placebo.

The ingredient provided same-day cognitive performance support that lasted at least five hours after consumption. Additional analysis confirmed that these performance gains correlated with increased calmness and contentment, which link emotional steadiness with cognitive efficiency.

“People don’t want to wait days, weeks, or even months to feel benefits,” says Le Cozannet. “Consumers increasingly expect noticeable benefits that fit their fast‑paced routines. Same-day effects enhance trust in both the science and the product. That aligns perfectly with the trend toward ‘on‑demand’ well-being solutions that deliver support when people need it most.”

“For brands, recognizing the link between calmness and cognitive performance means formulating with complementary ingredients rather than treating calmness and performance as separate territories. It’s about designing solutions that support consumers in real‑world conditions.”

Calming supplement innovations

The nutraceutical industry is currently gearing up for the upcoming Vitafoods Europe 2026 trade fair in Barcelona, Spain (May 5–7), where a host of stress relief product concepts are set to debut. Among featured exhibitors, Nektium plans to unveil sample concepts including Rhodiola rosea extract coffee and its sleep-promoting Aframomum melegueta (Grains of Paradise) extract, Vanizem.

In other recent activities around calming supplements, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recently granted Pharmactive Biotech Products individual license approval for its flagship saffron extract, Affron. The endorsement greenlights the ingredient’s scientifically backed stress relief claim, making it the sole holder of this recognition in the country.