How we scored it
Suspension of cultured lemon balm meristem cells: cell mass is plant material (n=1); culture medium and growth additives leave no mass in the substance. 1.0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.
Where it comes from
Dominant route is plant-cell biotechnology: Melissa officinalis meristem cells grown in sterile liquid culture and harvested. The suspending liquid is typically aqueous or glycerin-based but is not specified, hence medium confidence.
In plain English
A suspension of plant cells grown in a laboratory from the growing tip (meristem) of lemon balm, instead of harvesting the whole plant. It is listed as a skin-conditioning ingredient. The cells are plant-derived.
CosIng definition: Melissa Officinalis Meristem Cell Culture is a suspension of the cultured meristem cells of Melissa officinalis, Lamiaceae.
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2MELISSA OFFICINALIS MERISTEM CELL CULTURE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3MELISSA OFFICINALIS MERISTEM CELL CULTURE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=MELISSA%20OFFICINALIS%20MERISTEM%20CELL%20CULTURE