Scientific name  |  Larrea tridentata
Used part  | Leaf

Known active compounds  |  flavonoids, lignins, lignans, saponins, triterpenoids 

Potential benefits in cosmetics  |  anti-oxidant, anti-microbial
Product name  |  Chaparral Leaf-ANB

 

Plant Story

Chaparral (Larrea tridentata) is an evergreen shrub found throughout the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan Deserts. It grows mainly in the southern regions of the USA, including the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. It can also be found from the borders of Texas to northcentral Mexico. It is called gobernadora in Mexico, meaning “governess” in Spanish, due to its ability to secure more water by inhibiting the growth of nearby plants. Chaparral has been used for centuries by Native Americans for a wide range of medicinal conditions and illnesses.

 

Chaparral has been known to be an excellent source of bioactive compounds with its leaves being the primary extractable part. It contains several bioactive compounds, including lignin nordihydroguaiaretic acid, lignans (dihydroguaiaretic acid, heminorisoguaiacin, and norisoguaiacin), flavonoids (aglycones: apigenin and kaempferol; glycosides: chrysoeriol and quercetin), saponins (larreagenin A and larreic acid), and triterpenoids. Anti-microbial activity is the most well-known and well-studied bioactivity of chaparral. Chaparral extract has demonstrated activity against various microbial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans.