The Art of NATURE, The Art of SCIENCE
Common names | Stillingia, Queen's delight
Scientific name | Stillingia sylvatica
Used part | Root
Known active compounds | phenolic compounds, alkaloids, anthraquinones
Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, anti-fungal
Product name | Stillingia-ANB
Plant Story
Stillingia sylvatica, known as queen's delight, is a flowering plant endemic to southcentral and southeastern United States, growing in sandy areas such as sandhills and pine flatwoods. S. sylvatica was used by Native Americans to treat syphilis and as a cathartic, diuretic, laxative, and emetic. Stillingia is a plant that has been used all over the world to fight various types of infections. It helps detoxify the body and it can provide relief from inflammation and irritation. Stillingia can also be used to treat conditions of the skin. Externally, stillingia can be applied to decrease inflammation and cool burning skin.
S. sylvatica has not been studied to date despite its uses in herbal medicine. However, there are a few studies on other Stillingia species. Methanolic and aqueous extracts of S. lineata were found to contain alkaloids, phenolics, and anthraquinones and showed anti-oxidant activity. S. oppositifolia was reported to contain volatile compounds such as aleuritolic acid 3-acetate, β-sitosterol, 3-epi-β-amyrin, β-amyrone, and palmitic acid. These compounds as well as S. oppositifolia extract showed anti-fungal activity.