Common names | Yacon, Peruvian ground apple 

Scientific name | Smallanthus sonchifolius

Used part | Leaf

Known active compounds | protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid 

Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial 

Product name | Yacon Leaf-ANB

 

 

Plant Story

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a species of perennial daisy, mostly cultivated in South America from Colombia to northern Argentina as a food crop. The yacon plant grows about 2 m in height producing small yellow flowers and is commonly harvested for its crisp, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots. Traditionally, it has been used as folk medicine by indigenous people to treat diabetes. The tuber is also called Peruvian ground apple and mostly composed of water and fructooligosaccharide, an indigestible polysaccharide with prebiotic effect. Yacon is a close relative of the sunflower and Jerusalem artichoke.

 

Yacon leaf is a source of phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid. Yacon leaf extract exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting production of PGE2 and TNF-αin LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Methanol, hexane, and ethyl acetate extracts of yacon leaf also inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of light with the MIC value lower compared to known anti-biotics ampicillin and oxacillin, indicating anti-microbial activity.