Common names  | Mexican arnica
Scientific name  |  Heterotheca inuloides
Used part  |  Flower
Known active compounds  |  rutin, quercetin, dicadalenol, 7-hydroxycadalene 

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

Product name  |  Mexican Arnica-ANB

 

 

Plant Story

The Heterotheca genus is widely distributed in North America, found from Canada to central Mexico. Heterotheca inuloides, commonly called Mexican arnica, grows abundantly in temperate regions of Mexico. The flowers are well-known in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of diseases in Mexico, including rheumatism, muscular pain, contusions, bruises, and wounds. Internally, it has been used to treat fever, dental diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and other inflammatory diseases.

 

The genus Heterotheca is characterized by sesquiterpenes with cadinane skeleton, and compounds such as 7-hydroxycadalene, cadalene, and calacorene were isolated from H. inuloides. Flavonoids including luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin, and their derivatives have been isolated as well. The infusions of H. inuloides as well as acetone and methanol extracts showed anti-oxidant activities by scavenging free radicals. Its anti-inflammatory properties have been demonstrated using different in vitro and in vivo models. It was also reported that the methanol extract of H. inuloides exhibited anti-microbial activity against Helicobacter pylori.