Monarda didyma, also known as bee balm or Oswego tea, is a perennial herb that belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the moist woodlands of North America, particularly the eastern regions. This plant is not only celebrated for its vibrant, scarlet flowers but also for its aromatic leaves, which emit a pleasant, mint-like fragrance.

Botanical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Monarda
Species: M. didyma

Plant Characteristics

Monarda didyma typically grows to a height of about 90 cm (three feet), featuring branched, square stems that are characteristic of the mint family. The leaves are dark green, lanceolate, and serrated, with a pungent aroma reminiscent of mint when bruised or crushed. The flowers, which bloom from midsummer to early autumn, are bright red and form showy, globular inflorescences that attract a host of pollinators.

Chemical Composition and Structure

The plant's aromatic profile is primarily due to its rich content of thymol, a phenolic compound with robust antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. Monarda didyma also contains a variety of flavonoids, which are known for their antioxidant activities, and tannins, which contribute to its astringent properties. The red pigment of the flowers is attributed to anthocyanins, which have antioxidant effects beneficial to human health.

How to Cultivate It

Cultivating Monarda didyma involves:

1. Soil: Prefers rich, loamy, and well-draining soil with a pH ranging from slightly acidic to neutral.
2. Light: Thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, which may be beneficial in hotter, drier climates.
3. Water: Needs regular watering to maintain moist soil conditions, especially during dry periods. However, the soil should not remain soggy.
4. Temperature: Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, capable of withstanding a wide range of temperatures once established.

Uses and Benefits

Historically, Monarda didyma was extensively used by Native Americans for its medicinal properties, leveraging its oils and extracts to treat various ailments, including respiratory issues and skin infections. The leaves have been traditionally used in herbal teas, prized both for their flavor and therapeutic benefits.

Applications

• Medicinal: Employed in herbal medicine to exploit its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in the treatment of nausea, insomnia, and gastrointestinal disorders.
• Culinary: The leaves and flowers add a unique flavor to teas, salads, and sauces. The plant’s extracts are also used in natural food flavorings.
• Ornamental: Highly valued in landscaping for its aesthetic appeal and ability to attract a variety of pollinators, which is crucial for maintaining the health of the ecosystem.
• Cosmetics

INCI Functions:

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Tonic. This product is used to treat the hair when the scalp is clean or after shampooing. It stimulates hair growth, revitalises the scalp for healthy hair growth and reduces hair loss. It provides a feeling of well-being on skin and hair.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Monarda didyma is an ecologically beneficial plant that enhances garden biodiversity by attracting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It is safe for human and animal consumption. Cultivators should be mindful of fungal diseases like powdery mildew, which can be mitigated by ensuring good air circulation around the plants and avoiding overhead watering. It is advisable to use organic fungicides and practice crop rotation in garden settings to prevent soil-borne diseases and maintain environmental health.

References__________________________________________________________________________

Smeriglio A, Ingegneri M, Germanò MP, Miori L, Battistini G, Betuzzi F, Malaspina P, Trombetta D, Cornara L. Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Monarda didyma L. Growing in Trentino (Northern Italy) for Cosmeceutical Applications. Plants (Basel). 2023 Dec 30;13(1):112. doi: 10.3390/plants13010112. 

Abstract. Monarda didyma L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal and aromatic herb native to eastern North America and now is also cultivated in Northern Italy, which shows terminal heads of bright scarlet-red flowers, subtended by a whorl of red-tinged leafy bracts. Starting from 2018, M. didyma flowering tops have been included in the Belfrit List of botanicals. However, to date studies on the crude extract of this plant are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological and anatomical features of the flowering tops and the phytochemical profile of their ethanolic and hydroglyceric extracts (EE and HGE, respectively). HGE was the richest in total phenols (105.75 ± 5.91 vs. 64.22 ± 3.45 mg/100 mL) and especially in flavonoids (71.60 ± 5.09 vs. 47.70 ± 1.27 mg/100 mL), as confirmed also by LC-DAD-ESI-MS. Fifty-three polyphenols were identified and quantified. Even if they showed a common polyphenolic profile, EE and HGE showed quantitative differences. Flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins were the most expressed metabolites in HGE, whereas flavonols were the most expressed metabolites in EE. These features confer to HGE the highest antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic properties, detected by several in vitro and in vivo assays, highlighting a promising use of this plant extract for skincare applications.

Côté H, Pichette A, St-Gelais A, Legault J. The Biological Activity of Monarda didyma L. Essential Oil and Its Effect as a Diet Supplement in Mice and Broiler Chicken. Molecules. 2021 Jun 2;26(11):3368. doi: 10.3390/molecules26113368. 

Abstract. The use of growth-promoting antibiotics in livestock faces increasing scrutiny and opposition due to concerns about the increased occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Alternative solutions are being sought, and plants of Lamiaceae may provide an alternative to synthetic antibiotics in animal nutrition. In this study, we extracted essential oil from Monarda didyma, a member of the Lamiaceae family. We examined the chemical composition of the essential oil and then evaluated the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of M. didyma essential oil and its main compounds in vitro. We then evaluated the effectiveness of M. didyma essential oil in regard to growth performance, feed efficiency, and mortality in both mice and broilers. Carvacrol (49.03%) was the dominant compound in the essential oil extracts. M. didyma essential oil demonstrated antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (MIC = 87 µg·mL-1), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 47 µg·mL-1), and Clostridium perfringens (MIC = 35 µg·mL-1). Supplementing the diet of mice with essential oil at a concentration of 0.1% significantly increased body weight (+5.4%) and feed efficiency (+18.85%). In broilers, M. didyma essential oil significantly improved body weight gain (2.64%). Our results suggest that adding M. didyma essential oil to the diet of broilers offers a potential substitute for antibiotic growth promoters.

Ricci D, Epifano F, Fraternale D. The Essential Oil of Monarda didyma L. (Lamiaceae) Exerts Phytotoxic Activity in Vitro against Various Weed Seed. Molecules. 2017 Feb 2;22(2):222. doi: 10.3390/molecules22020222.

Abstract. The chemical composition of the essential oil of the flowering aerial parts of Monarda didyma L. cultivated in central Italy was analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The major compounds of the oil were thymol (59.3%), p-cymene (10.3%), terpinolene (9.2%), δ-3-carene (4.4%), myrcene (3.7%), and camphene (3.4%). The essential oil was tested in vitro for its anti-germination activity against Papaver rhoeas L., Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg., Avena fatua L., Raphanus sativus L. and Lepidium sativum L. seeds, demonstrating good inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent way. The exposure of the employed weed seeds to M. didyma essential oil and thymol solution (59.3%) increased the level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), markers of oxidative stress, in emerging 5-day-old rootlets.