[Effects of Lemon Balm Dandelion Extract Complex (LD100)] 3 Benefits of LD100, a Raw Material that Protects Liver Cells

Dec 03, 2023KimSunhyo

[Effects of Lemon Balm Dandelion Extract Complex (LD100)] 3 Benefits of LD100, a Raw Material that Protects Liver Cells

Lemon Balm Dandelion Extract Complex (LD100)

A Cutting-edge Liver Health Functional Ingredient, LD100

This content is health information about ingredients and not directly related to a specific product.

Effects of Lemon Balm Dandelion Extract Complex (LD100)

1. Liver protection in alcoholic liver damage
2. Improves liver levels (AST ∙ GGT)
3. Inhibits lipid accumulation in liver cells

Hello, I am Jinny, a pharmacist.

When you think of liver health, what ingredient comes to mind first? I think many people, including me, automatically think of milk thistle. Milk thistle has been used in Europe since the 1st century as a treatment for jaundice, stone removal, and snake bites, and has been consistently used as an adjuvant treatment for liver disease since 1968, when its effective ingredients were identified [1].

So, the representative ingredient for liver health for the past 50 years has been ‘milk thistle extract.’ However, in 2020, interesting research results were published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry, an SCI-level international academic journal. ‘This ingredient’, a cutting-edge raw material, was shown to be more effective than milk thistle extract (silymarin) in suppressing liver lipopathy caused by alcohol [2].

For those who drink frequently, the ‘ingredient’ that you should focus on is the functional ingredient Lemon Balm and Dandelion Extract Complex (LD100) that we will introduce to you today. As the name suggests, this raw material is a mixture of lemon balm extract and dandelion extract in a ratio that showed the highest activity in test studies. It is also the latest individually approved liver health functional raw material recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
[1] Gillessen, A., & Schmidt, H. H. J. (2020). Silymarin as supportive treatment in liver diseases: A narrative review. Advances in therapy, 37(4), 1279-1301.
[2] Choi, B. R., Cho, I. J., Jung, S. J., Kim, J. K., Park, S. M., Lee, D. G., ... & Park, K. M. (2020). Lemon balm and dandelion leaf extract synergistically alleviate ethanol‐induced hepatotoxicity by enhancing antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity. Journal of Food Biochemistry, 44(8), e13232.

1. Liver Protection in Alcoholic Liver Injury

Although drinking itself cannot be said to be bad, excessive alcohol consumption can be a cause of poor health. In fact, it is reported that alcohol consumption was the main cause of death in 3.8% of deaths worldwide. Especially, alcoholic liver disease is one of the important causes of death due to liver disease and is highly correlated with increased alcohol intake and consumption time [3].

It may sound like someone else's problem, but in fact, there are research reports that fatty liver is observed in more than 90% of people who drink excessively and 30% of people suffer from alcoholic liver disease. It is known to be caused by the production of harmful oxygen, mitochondrial damage, and steatosis, which are common characteristics of acute and chronic alcohol exposure [4].
[3,4] Li, S., Tan, H. Y., Wang, N., Zhang, Z. J., Lao, L., Wong, C. W., & Feng, Y. (2015). The role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in liver diseases. International journal of molecular sciences, 16(11), 26087-26124.

For this reason, one of the important items to consider in terms of the efficacy of liver health functional ingredients is their effectiveness in suppressing liver damage caused by alcohol. In 2020, the SCI-level international journal Journal of Food Biochemistry announced that the protective effect of lemon balm and dandelion extract complex (LD100) against alcoholic liver damage was confirmed and that it was superior to milk thistle extract in terms of effectiveness.

"The hepatoprotective effect of lemon balm and dandelion extract complex against alcoholic liver damage was superior to that of milk thistle extract and single extracts of lemon balm and dandelion. ... This fact suggests that lemon balm and dandelion extract complex may be effective in preventing alcohol-induced liver damage. “It proves that he is a promising candidate.”

Reference : Choi, B. R., Cho, I. J., Jung, S. J., Kim, J. K., Park, S. M., Lee, D. G., ... & Park, K. M. (2020). Lemon balm and dandelion leaf extract synergistically alleviate ethanol‐induced hepatotoxicity by enhancing antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity. Journal of Food Biochemistry, 44(8), e13232.

2. Improves Liver Index (AST ∙ GGT)

Following the academic reports on the excellent liver protective activity of lemon balm and dandelion extract complex (LD100) in alcoholic liver damage, additional studies were designed to examine whether the efficacy of this ingredient is limited to alcoholic liver damage, or it could contribute to improving liver health in a broader sense such as general liver health decline?

The study included 96 adults whose liver levels were approximately 110 to 320 percent of the upper limit of normal*, despite not consuming too much alcohol, or taking other drugs that could cause liver damage. As a result of a 12-week human application test, it was reported that the consumption of lemon balm and dandelion extract complex (LD100) resulted in a significant decrease in AST and GGT, major liver function test markers.
*Upper normal limit for liver levels: Based on ALT 33 IU/L

"Through this human application test, it was confirmed that LD100 500mg/day for 12 weeks has the ability to improve liver function by reducing blood AST and GGT in subjects with mild liver function decline. Additionally, while the study was in progress, clinical “No significant adverse reactions or physical changes were observed, so it was judged that ingestion of LD100 was safe for the human body.”

Reference : LD100 human application trial report '12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-comparative human application trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of LD100 in improving liver function in subjects with mild liver function decline'

3. Inhibits Lipid Accumulation in Liver Cells

Earlier, I told you that fatty liver disease is observed in more than 90% of people who drink excessively. Fatty liver refers to a condition in which fat accumulates within liver cells, and excessive drinking, obesity (abdominal obesity), diabetes, and hyperlipidemia are cited as major causes of fatty liver. Although it is very common, it may go unnoticed because it has no specific symptoms.

However, if the root cause of fatty liver is not corrected, it can progress to steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, and then cirrhosis, so proper management is necessary. According to mechanistic studies, lemon balm and dandelion extract complex suppresses liver lipid accumulation by suppressing the expression of liver lipid formation genes and increasing the expression of genes involved in liver lipid oxidation, so it appears to be helpful in managing fatty liver.

Already in 2019, Beomrak Choi and researchers conducted an evaluation of the effects of lemon balm and dandelion extract complex on non-alcoholic acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. In this study, a decrease in liver relative weight was confirmed following treatment with lemon balm and dandelion extract complex (LD100), and this effect was reported to be superior compared to when treated with milk thistle extract, lemon balm, or dandelion alone.

"Administration of lemon balm and dandelion leaf extract in a mixed ratio statistically significantly suppressed the increase in liver relative weight due to liver toxicity... than the groups administered milk thistle extract (silymarin), lemon balm alone, or dandelion alone. The relative weight of the liver was further reduced.”

Reference : Choi, B. R., Cho, I. J., Jung, S. J., Kim, J. K., Lee, D. G., Ku, S. K., & Park, K. M. (2019). Study on the hepatoprotective effects of lemon balm and dandelion leaf extract combination in carbon tetrachloride-mediated liver injured mice. Herbal formula science, 27(3), 199-211.

Today, we looked at the results of academic research on lemon balm and dandelion extract complex (LD100), a new liver health material. Unlike milk thistle extract, which contributes to detoxification by improving the antioxidant activity of liver tissue based on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, Lemon Balm and Dandelion Extract Complex (LD100) contains lemon balm extract that acts to improve lipid metabolism and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It appears to contribute to liver health through the synergistic action of dandelion extract, which acts on inflammation.

Summarizing the information discussed, if you want to intensively manage your liver health, choose Lemon Balm and Dandelion Extract Complex (LD100), and if you want to reduce the burden of liver detoxification and receive antioxidant help, choose milk thistle extract. I think this way, it will help you use each ingredient more appropriately.

Furthermore, both milk thistle extract and lemon balm dandelion extract complex (LD100) are NOT recommended to children under 12 years of age. Also, if you are being treated for a disease or taking medication, we recommend that you consult with your doctor before deciding on intake.

I hope you have a healthy day both physically and mentally. This was Jinny.