Wild Bergamot
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), also known as a Bee Balm or Oswego Tea, is native to much of North America, from northern Mexico to southern Canada. It is a perennial herb in the Mint family that can grow up to four feet tall, characterized by leaves up to four inches in length and clusters of pink to purple flowers of one to three inches in diameter. Wild Bergamot is an important native species for pollinators in the United States, and is one of the most preferred species for bees, especially bumblebees (Rowe, Gibson, Landis, Gibbs, & Isaacs, 2018).
Historical Use
The plant was used by many Native American tribes for a number of purposes. There are first-hand accounts that members of the Hidatsa would crush dried leaves and flowers of Wild Bergamot to perfume their clothes (Wilson & Scullin, 2014). There are also a few reports that Wild Bergamot was used to treat wounds and dental infections, as well as gastrointestinal complaints.
Fore more information, see the John R. Martin Rare Book Room.
Current Use
One of the most common contemporary uses of Monarda fistulosa is as an ornamental plant, though it is also being used widely in prairie restoration and to restore forage for wild bees (Rowe et al., 2018). However, there are a number of current investigations into useful chemicals derived from Wild Bergamot. One of the most promising is carvacrol, which has been shown to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties (Marchese et al., 2018; Sharifi-Rad et al., 2018). Carvacrol has been investigated for treating E. coli and Salmonella infections (Sharifi-Rad et al., 2018). In addition, essential oils from Monarda fistulosa have displayed some value as a mosquito repellent (Tabanca et al., 2013).
Latest Research
- Monarda Fistulosa Flower Extract Decreases Interleukin-6 Production by Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Murine Macrophages
by Makenna D Gerold on July 25, 2025 at 10:00 amMonarda fistulosa (M. fistulosa) is a flowering plant used as an herbal remedy due to its anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we sought to test the anti-inflammatory properties of a M. fistulosa methanolic flower crude extract and found that the extract decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-6 cytokine production by RAW 264.7 macrophages. We went on to characterize potential anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds present in the methanolic extract of M. fistulosa flower using…
- Role of Carvacrol in Oral Health: An Overviewby Abdolrasoul Rangrazi on July 4, 2025 at 10:00 am
Oral diseases represent significant health challenges, with periodontal diseases and dental caries ranking as key preventable infectious diseases worldwide. Oral health affects overall quality of life, and inadequate oral hygiene is associated with chronic diseases. Carvacrol is a monoterpenoid phenol found in essential oils of pepperwort (Lepidium flavum), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), oregano (Origanum vulgare), wild bergamot (Citrus aurantium), and other plants. Carvacrol exhibits numerous…
- High-throughput iNaturalist image analysis reveals flower color divergence in Monarda fistulosaby Patrick F McKenzie on June 12, 2025 at 10:00 am
Characterizing patterns of trait variation across widespread species is a fundamental goal of natural history. Here we create a pipeline to analyze a large community science dataset and test hypothesized flower color divergence across the range of a widespread wildflower. Monarda fistulosa is a North American perennial that produces showy lavender inflorescences. Although previous literature suggests that the flowers of western M. fistulosa might display a deeper purple color than the eastern…
- Bumble bees (Bombus spp., Hymenoptera: Apidae) of Rhode Island: species richness, relative abundance, and floral visitationby Elizabeth M Varkonyi on May 24, 2025 at 10:00 am
Historical records (1900 to 1999) indicate that 12 bumble bee species occurred in Rhode Island, however, baseline data of current bee fauna are limited. To assess the status of bumble bee species in Rhode Island, a statewide survey was conducted by visual observations of bees visiting flowers and using vane traps. Floral observations in 2020 and 2021 were conducted to document flowering plant visitations and bumble bee species richness and abundance. Bees were collected using vane traps at…
- Influence of Plant Phenology on Chemical Composition of Monarda fistulosa L. Organs and their Bioactive Propertiesby Łukasz Gontar on September 26, 2024 at 10:00 am
Monarda fistulosa L. above-ground organs, collected at three phases of plant phenology, were investigated as potential raw materials for application in the food industry. They were evaluated regarding essential oil (EO) content, composition, and antimicrobial activity, as well as characteristics of phenolic fractions and antioxidant properties, which may determine health benefits and potential use in food preservation. The dominant constituent of leaf EO was carvacrol. In the inflorescence EO…
References
Marchese, A., Arciola, C. R., Coppo, E., Barbieri, R., Barreca, D., Chebaibi, S., . . . Daglia, M. (2018). The natural plant compound carvacrol as an antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agent: mechanisms, synergies and bio-inspired anti-infective materials. Biofouling, 34(6), 630-656. doi:10.1080/08927014.2018.1480756
Rowe, L., Gibson, D., Landis, D., Gibbs, J., & Isaacs, R. (2018). A Comparison of Drought-Tolerant Prairie Plants to Support Managed and Wild Bees in Conservation Programs. Environ Entomol, 47(5), 1128-1142. doi:10.1093/ee/nvy091
Sharifi-Rad, M., Varoni, E. M., Iriti, M., Martorell, M., Setzer, W. N., Del Mar Contreras, M., . . . Sharifi-Rad, J. (2018). Carvacrol and human health: A comprehensive review. Phytother Res, 32(9), 1675-1687. doi:10.1002/ptr.6103
Tabanca, N., Bernier, U. R., Ali, A., Wang, M., Demirci, B., Blythe, E. K., . . . Khan, I. A. (2013). Bioassay-guided investigation of two Monarda essential oils as repellents of yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. J Agric Food Chem, 61(36), 8573-8580. doi:10.1021/jf402182h
Wilson, G. L., & Scullin, M. (2014). Uses of Plants by the Hidatsas of the Northern Plains. Lincoln, UNITED STATES: Nebraska.