Lemon Verbena Extract May Help Promote Relaxation, Sleep Quality in Teens 

A new study published in Applied Sciences showed that RelaxPLX, a natural lemon verbena extract from Monteloeder, (a subsidiary of SUANNUTRA), can help support relaxation and sleep quality in teenagers experiencing occasional stress and restlessness.

Health experts say teenagers aged 13 to 18 years need 8-10 hours of sleep every night. Yet studies show that 60-70% of adolescents, predominantly in Western countries and Asia, are not meeting that benchmark. The National Sleep Foundation’s 2024 “Sleep in America” report revealed that nearly 80% of teens experience ongoing sleep deficits.

Following successful clinical trials of its lemon verbena extract in supporting sleep quality in adults, Monteloeder explored the compound’s potential benefits in adolescents. “Teenagers are especially sensitive to the effects of limited sleep and emotional changes,” said Mariana Ortega-Rufino, MS, science marketing manager of SUANNUTRA. “During puberty, hormonal shifts can influence the circadian rhythm, making restful sleep more difficult to achieve.”

Study Details

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled 44 healthy adolescents aged 12–16 who reported occasional sleep and stress-related challenges. Participants were administered either a 400 mg dose of RelaxPLX or placebo 1 hour before bedtime for 12 weeks.

Enhanced Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale (ASWS) scores were observed across all five sleep behavior parameters, which included going to bed, falling asleep, maintaining sleep, reinitiating sleep after waking, and returning to wakefulness in the morning.

The RelaxPLX group also experienced meaningful improvements in perceived stress levels, as measured through the Perceived Stress Scale for Children (PSS-C). After the first month of supplementation, this group showed progressive changes in key stress indicators, such as “feeling rushed, nervous, or worried.”

The results aligned with the questionnaire. Teens taking RelaxPLX exhibited a 21% drop in salivary cortisol levels, a key marker linked to stress, while the levels of the stress hormone increased by 9% overall in the placebo group. The changes appeared more quickly and were stronger among female participants.

A blind clinical validation by an independent psychologist rated 86% of participants in the RelaxPLX group as improved (vs 19% in placebo). Positive parental feedback further supported the benefits of RelaxPLX in helping their teens unwind. In a 10-question evaluation at the end of the study, parents awarded high scores in the areas of sleep and emotional wellbeing for their adolescent children.

“What stands out in this study is the triple validation it achieved via feedback from the teenagers through questionnaires, physiological biomarker data, and observations from both the psychologist and parents,” said Jonathan Jones, PhD, chief R&D officer at Monteloeder. “Our natural formula offers a safe, science-backed way to help teens manage occasional stress, manage emotional balance, and maintain mental wellbeing.”

RelaxPLX is a purified extract of lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora), a lemon scented aromatic herb traditionally used for relaxation and digestive comfort. RelaxPLX is standardized to verbascosides, a polyphenolic compound recognized for multiple biological activities, including the ability to interact with the benzodiazepine binding site in the GABA-A receptors of neurons, which may help promote a calming effect. Verbascoside has also been shown to support the production of key neurotransmitters such as serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine.