Common names | heather, common heather

Scientific name | Calluna vulgaris

INCI name | Calluna Vulgaris Extract

Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | quercetin, chlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin

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

Product name | Heather-APD, Heather-ANB

Plant Story

Calluna vulgaris, known as common heather, ling, or heather, is the only species in the genus Calluna. It is an evergreen flowering shrub widely growing in western Europe and Asia. C. vulgaris produces oblong, triangular or slightly elongated leaves with bell-shaped flowers in clusters. It is thought that the genus name Calluna comes from the Greek “Kallyno”, meaning “to cleanse”, “beautify”, or “to sweep”. Heather has a long history of use as a medicinal herb. The flowering shoots were considered antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, and mildly sedative and made into an infusion for the treatment of coughs, colds, or bladder and kidney disorders.

Constituents and bioactivities of heather plants have been reported. Phenolic compounds such as methoxy myricetin deoxyhexoside, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, catechin, and epicatechin were found to be abundant in heather flowers. Anti-oxidant activities of heather flowers were confirmed by DPPH and FRAP assays. Additionally, heather flowers showed anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus.