Common names | marshmallow 

Scientific name | Althaea officinalis
Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, apigenin, galangin

Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory
Product name | Marshmallow Flower-APD, Marshmallow Flower-ANB
 

Plant Story

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), or marsh mallow, is a flowering plant native to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. Althaea officinalis has over 2000 years of history of use for medicinal purposes, including to treat common cold, sore throat, inflammatory bowel diseases, indigestion, and stomach ulcers. The genus name Althaea comes from the ancient Greek word “althaia” meaning "healer", and its species name officinalis means plants with culinary or medicinal value. Ancient Egyptians used its roots to make confections, called marshmallow, although modern marshmallow no longer contain this root. Marshmallow flowers are white to pale pink and reddish pink in color and has been used in herbal medicine and as a tea.

Marshmallow flowers have been studied for bioactivities. Marshmallow flowers contain phenolic acids such as caffeic and p-coumaric acids and flavonoids including apigenin and galangin. Aqueous extract of marshmallow flowers also showed anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Hydroethanolic extracts of marshmallow flowers also showed anti-oxidant activities by CUPRAC and ferric ion reducing assays.