Common names | hollyhock

Scientific name | Althaea rosea

Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | quercetin, rutin, luteolin, caffeic acid, ferulic acid

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

Plant Story

Althaea rosea (or Alcea rosea), commonly called hollyhock, is a biennial, herbaceous flowering plant. It is thought that hollyhock originated from Asia and introduced to Europe. Hollyhock has been used for medicinal purposes, such as to treat tuberculosis and bladder inflammations. The flowers are believed to be demulcent, diuretic and emollient, and they can be used to treat chest complaints, constipation, dysmenorrhea, or hemorrhage. In traditional herbal medicine, hollyhock was used as a general tonic for overall well-being and it was believed to have mild, calming effects.

A few scientific studies have reported constituents and bioactivities of hollyhock flowers. Hollyhock flowers are a source of various phenolic compounds, including quercetin derivatives, rutin, luteolin, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid. Moreover, these phenolic compounds inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B(NF- B), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-8, indicating anti-inflammatory potential of hollyhock flowers. In addition, hollyhock flowers showed anti-oxidant activity by scavenging DPPH radical.