More than 100 natural active ingredients of Edelweiss for our skin.
The Edelweiss. A true miracle of healing power. According to the latest findings, the active ingredients of Edelweiss have a strong antibacterial, antiseptic and antioxidant effect. Here we clarify the most important active ingredients of Edelweiss.
The Edelweiss grows in the wild on barren, nutrient-poor, sandy and gravelly soils with little humus at inhospitable altitudes from 1,500 to 3,000 m, in wind and weather and with extreme sunlight.
Under this so-called "environmental stress", the Edelweiss develops valuable active ingredients. While Edelweiss was used in 19th century folk medicine to treat stomach ache, sore throat, bronchitis, diarrhoea and dysentery, it is now recognised that the more than 100 natural active ingredients of Edelweiss are particularly suitable for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, medicinal plant and food industries. Scientists have discovered valuable active ingredients such as benzofuran, benzopyran, coumarins, diterpene acids, lignans, flavonoids, phenolic acids, polyethines and sesquiterpenes. Glucosides, bisabolan derivatives and tannins have strong antioxidative and radical scavenging properties.
For economic use, Edelweiss is cultivated organically at altitudes from approx. 1,000 m - 1,700 m above sea level. Although it also thrives at lower altitudes, it does not develop these valuable ingredients there.
The most important groups of active ingredients of Edelweiss are:
LEOLIGIN.
Researchers from the Department of Pharmacognosy of the Institute of Pharmacy at the University of Innsbruck have discovered the active ingredient leoligin in the Edelweiss roots, which could revolutionise the treatment of vascular diseases. In cell culture analyses, the ingredient leoligin was shown to be an effective agent against thickening of the inner wall of blood vessels. Thickening of the inner wall of blood vessels is one of the most important causes of many cardiovascular diseases and is a precursor of arteriosclerosis. In skin care, leoligin has proven to be a valuable and effective ingredient in the reduction of expression lines and wrinkles caused by aging.
TANS TANNIN.
Tannins are vegetable tanning agents, have a high skin-protective function, have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, tighten the skin and even have a slightly preventive effect on sunburn. FLAVONOIDS. The flavonoids are found in the above-ground parts of flowering plants. There they have the task of giving the flowers and leaves their colour. Flavonoids act in the human organism like a freshness retaining agent. They are used preventively against various diseases. They have a healing effect on chronic diseases, they strengthen the blood vessels, have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects.
ANTI-OXIDANTIES
Edelweiss contains very high quality anti-oxidants, these have multiple properties. They have a refreshing, hyposensitive effect, stimulate blood circulation, increase cell elasticity and thus promote skin renewal. In particular, the anti-oxidants enriched in edelweiss bind and reduce free radicals. Free radicals are considered the skin's greatest enemies. The main cause of premature skin aging and wrinkle formation.
The Edelweiss (Leontopodium Alpinum)
- family: composite flower (Asteraceae)
- Life space: 1. 800 to 3,500 metres above sea level
- In organic cultivation: from approx. 1,000 to 1,700 metres above sea level
- Strictly protected since 1886