Common names | Provence rose, cabbage rose, Rose de Mai

Scientific name | Rosa centifolia

Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | quercetin, kaempferol

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

Product name | Rose Flower-APD, Rose Flower-ANB

Plant Story

Rosa centifolia is a species of rose commonly called the Provence rose, cabbage rose, or Rose de Mai. It holds a special place in the history and culture of Grasse, a town located in southeastern France. R. centifolia plays a significant role in the fragrance industry in Grasse which is renowned as the perfume capital of the world. These fragrant and edible flowers have been used both medicinal and culinary purposes for centuries. With its delicate, sweet, and floral flavor, they are used as a flavoring agent and added to desserts, jams, and beverages. Medicinally, the rose petal extracts or infusions are topically applied to the skin to alleviate redness and swelling. The rose essential oil is believed to have calming and relaxing properties. R. centifolia flowers is also used in various skincare products due to its mild astringent properties. Rose water is often used as a toner to cleanse and refresh the skin.

It was shown that R. centifolia flowers have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The flower extracts showed dose-dependent radical scavenging and ferrous iron chelating activities. When tested with carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats, R. centifolia extract treatment reduced paw edema dose-dependently and inhibited pro-inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta. R. centifolia extract also showed anti-microbial and anti-acne properties by inhibiting Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans and Cutibacterium acnes.