Common names  |  American wintergreen, Teaberry, Checkerberry, Boxberry 

Scientific name  |  Gaultheria procumbens
Used part  |  Leaf

Known active compounds  |  kaempferol, quercetin, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid 

Potential benefits in cosmetics  |  anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory
Product name  |  American Wintergreen-ANB

 

Plant Story

Gaultheria procumbens is a low-growing evergreen shrub native to northeastern North America. It is commonly called American wintergreen, teaberry, checkerberry, boxberry, or Canada tea. The berry-like fruits, white when immature and red when ripe, are edible with mint-like flavors. The leaves and branches can be enjoyed as an herbal tea. Traditionally, Native Americans used this plant for various medicinal purposes. The infusion of leaves was used for the treatment of colds, stomachaches, chronic indigestion, rheumatism, arthritis, kidney disorders, and tuberculosis.

 

Bioactive phytocompounds isolated from the leaves of G. procumbens are mainly phenolic compounds including kaempferol, quercetin, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, sinapic acid, o-coumaric acid, benzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, o-pyrocatechuic acid, salicylic acid, syringic acid, gentistic acid, vanillic acid, and vanillin. The extract of its leaves exhibits anti-oxidant activities by radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting lipoxygenase and hyaluronidase activities.