Common names | sweet violet, wood violet, English violet, common violet

Scientific name | Viola odorata

Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | vitexin, isovitexin, kaempferol, rutin

Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, skin brightening

Product name | Sweet Violet-APD, Sweet Violet-ANB

Plant Story

Viola odorata, commonly known as sweet violet, wood violet, or English violet, is a small, flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. It is known for fragrant, delicate purple or blue-violet flowers and heart-shaped leaves. The flowers and leaves are edible and can be used in salads as a colorful garnish. The candied flowers can be used as decorative toppings for desserts. In traditional medicine, sweet violet was made into teas or syrups and used to soothe coughs, sore throats, and respiratory discomfort. The infusions and extracts of sweet violet were applied topically to the skin for minor skin irritations and rashes.

The phytochemical analysis of V. odorata showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloid, and saponins. V. odorata extract was shown to contain flavonoids such as vitexin, isovitexin, kaempferol-6-glucoside, and rutin. Numerous studies reported the anti-oxidant efficacies of V. odorata extracts through radical scavenging. The anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and skin brightening potentials of V. odorata extracts were also shown.