Common names | common peony, garden peony

Scientific name | Paeonia officinalis

Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | quercetin, ellagic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid

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

Product name | Peonimo-APD, Peonimo-ANB

Plant Story

Paeonia officinalis, commonly known as common peony or garden peony, is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe. This plant is known for its beautiful and fragrant flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. Although peony flowers are primarily grown for their ornamental value, the petals can also be used in cooking and baking to add a delicate and floral flavor to dishes. While peony root has been traditionally used for medicinal purposes such as to alleviate pain and to reduce inflammation, the petals are mostly enjoyed as a tea or garnishes in salads.

Scientific research reported strong anti-oxidant activities of P. officinalis flowers. When tested with 22 wild edible flowers including P. officinalis flowers, P. officinalis showed the highest value of polyphenols. It also showed the highest anti-oxidant activity when measured with FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS assays. P. officinalis flowers were reported to contain phytochemicals including quercetin, quercitrin, catechin, epicatechin, ellagic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid. In another study, the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of P. officinalis flowers showed the highest ORAC values compared to three other extracts tested together. They also showed strong anti-microbial activities against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella abony, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and so on.