Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) is a plant that can reach 2 meters in height, belonging to the Family of The Onagraceae.

It produces a characteristic rosette of leaves near the ground. It does not give flowers the first year and, in the second year, blooms in bright yellow and seeds.

It is derived a seed oil whose active ingredients are triglycerides of fatty acids, mainly linolenic and linolenic range (1).

What it is used for and where

Medical

Evening primrose oil is administered internally in the treatment and mitigation of the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. A clinical study in patients with atopic dermatitis, in which the influence of Evening primrose oil was estimated on inflammation, dryness, exfoliation and itching, revealed an improvement in all parameters compared to the placebo group (2).

Evening primrose oil should be used with caution in patients with epilepsy and schizophrenia or by people taking epilectic drugs. It should not be given during pregnancy or breastfeeding or to children without medical supervision (3).

Essential oil exerts an antioxidant action.

Evening primrose polyphenol extract demonstrated anti-migrant, anti-invasive and antimetastatic potential towards prostate and breast cancer cell lines (4).

In this study, evening primrose was shown to promote the contraction of matrix collagen, actin polymerisation and the production of essential ECM proteins. These results confirm the therapeutic value of this plant in slowing down the progression of skin ageing (5).

Oenothera paradoxa Hudziok, a plant very similar to Oenothera biennis has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics.

Cosmetics

The oil contained in evening primrose seeds contains polyunsaturated fatty acids such as cis-linoleic and cis-gammalinoleic acid, making it useful for rebuilding dry skin and as an anti-ageing agent.

Evening primrose studies

References_____________________________________________

(1) WHO. Oleum Oenotherae Biennis. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002. Monographs on selected medicinal plants; pp. 217–30.

(2) Pytkowska K. Effect of lipids on epidermal barrier function. Wiadomości PTK. 2003;2:7–10.

(3) WHO. Oleum Oenotherae Biennis. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002. Monographs on selected medicinal plants; pp. 217–30.

(4) Lewandowska U, Owczarek K, Szewczyk K, Podsędek A, Koziołkiewicz M, Hrabec E. Influence of polyphenol extract from evening primrose (Oenothera paradoxa) seeds on human prostate and breast cancer cell lines.   Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2014 Feb 3;68:110-8. doi: 10.5604/17322693.1088036.

(5) Ceccacci S, De Lucia A, Tito A, Tortora A, Falanga D, Arciello S, Ausanio G, Di Cicco C, Monti MC, Apone F. An Oenothera biennis Cell Cultures Extract Endowed with Skin Anti-Ageing Activity Improves Cell Mechanical Properties. Metabolites. 2021 Aug 9;11(8):527. doi: 10.3390/metabo11080527.