Monteloeder participates in innovation hub to accelerate lemon verbena research

21 May 2024 --- Monteloeder will participate in the La Vera Campo Arañuelo Hub project to cultivate and produce its flagship botanical lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) for the market in Cáceres, Spain. It will serve as a keystone ingredient for research and agricultural innovation.

Monteloeder, a subsidiary of SuanNutra, is one of seven companies participating in the agronomical research campaign. It has a designated space for growing lemon verbena in the Cáceres countryside, where tobacco fields were transformed to cultivate herbs for the nutraceutical industry. Its lemon verbena will grow alongside 14 other botanical crops, including sage, hops and lemon balm.

“This project is designed to both revitalize this strip of Spanish countryside and to foster the transition from cultivating tobacco to more functional medicinal plants. It will also boost the surrounding communities by driving economic and rural development. We will work closely with the local farmers and share our specialized methods for sustainably cultivating organic verbena,” says Fran Cremades, technical and operations director at Monteloeder.

Lemon verbena is used in conjunction with other botanicals in many of Monteloeder’s clinically studied branded products spanning joint health (MovePLX), sleep and relaxation (RelaxPLX), healthy metabolism (Metabolaid) and beauty from within (Zeropollution). 

Advancing agro-botanical science
The innovation hub was created to allow agro-botanical companies to collaborate to further scientific research around botanicals’ functional and medical properties. Under its wing, Monteloeder will explore new agricultural techniques, such as precision agriculture, to upgrade cultivation practices. 

Lemon verbena, native to South America and dating back to the ancient Inca culture, is prized for its aromatic properties in culinary applications and herbal remedies. Andean healers value it as a digestive aid and antispasmodic remedy for bronchitis. Scientific enquiry into the botanical shows that it has a rich profile of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, essential oils, triterpenes, vitamins and minerals.

Monteloeder uses a proprietary method of hydroalcoholic extraction of selected leaves that delivers a pure concentration of active compounds. Microfiltration further concentrates the active compounds, followed by low-temperature drying to preserve them.

“Lemon verbena is naturally graced with a versatile spectrum of beneficial traits. It possesses natural relaxing, digestive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-support properties. This is the reason we’ve positioned it at the center of our portfolio of botanical solutions, each tailored to address different health categories. Verbena fulfills a very specific and meaningful role in each one,” explains Maria Ángeles Gutiérrez, marketing director of SuanNutra.Monteloeder’s lemon verbena is extracted using a hydroalcoholic method. 

Lemon verbena coexists synergistically with various other botanicals in several of Monteloeder’s clinically studied branded products spanning joint health, sleep and relaxation, healthy metabolism and beauty from within.

Environmental responsibility
The La Vera Campo Arañuelo Hub initiative prioritizes environmentally responsible practices that optimize water use, enhance soil health through carbon and mineral content recovery, and forego the use of pesticides. 

Monteloeder will deepen its understanding of agronomical and environmental conditions to maximize yields and assess humidity, pH, soil quality and irrigation levels. The company will also identify the parameters that impact leaf active content to develop ways to increase the potency of lemon verbena extracts.

“We have garnered more than twenty years of experience in nurturing lemon verbena to tease out its myriad benefits for personal well-being and determine the optimal methods for extracting its goodness and crafting novel applications,” says Cremades. 

“Lemon verbena is a central ingredient in most of our branded, science-backed nutrients. Its bright, citrusy notes also elevate the sensory experience of the supplements, making them more enjoyable to consume. This project will solidify our position as a leading force in bringing the best of this extolled botanical to our customers, and in the most sustainable way.”

Monteloeder was recently designated as patron of lemon verbena at the American Botanical Council’s Adopt an Herb program, making them the leading authority in supplying the most current information on the botanical via the HerbMedPro platform.

“Our goal is to keep unlocking new attributes of lemon verbena. For example, we will explore its capabilities as prebiotic, its contribution to glucose management, promotion of scalp health, mitigation of fatty liver, and more,” concludes Ángeles Gutiérrez.

Meanwhile, Monteloeder has created a fruit-flavored vegan gummy that’s a twist on its Eternalyoung antioxidant botanical blend containing vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10 to be incorporated into its plant-based ingredients portfolio. The range boasts a harmonious fusion of powerful polyphenols with synergistic effects on skin rejuvenation.

In a new clinical study, EternalYoung has been shown to provide powerful anti-aging benefits for the skin. The blend contains several polyphenols that promote enhanced skin elasticity, moisturization and radiance.

By Inga de Jong