Krameria Triandra extract is an extract of the root from the homonymous plant which is also called Ratania originating in Peru that grows up to one metre high, belongs to the Krameriaceae family and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine against inflammation of the oral cavity.

It was discovered by Hipólito Ruiz López (1754 - 1815), a Spanish botanist who discovered the plant in 1799 in Huánuco, a town in the Peruvian Andes. 

The dried root of the plant is used. The roots consist of a main root that can grow up to 10 centimetres in length from which much longer secondary branching roots branch off. The flowers have four deep purple red petals.

It is a medicinal plant with astringent, antioxidant properties (1).

Herbs have been used in medicines and cosmetics from centuries. Their potential to treat different skin diseases, to adorn and improve the skin appearance is well-known. As ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause sunburns, wrinkles, lower immunity against infections, premature aging, and cancer, there is permanent need for protection from UV radiation and prevention from their side effects. Herbs and herbal preparations have a high potential due to their antioxidant activity, primarily.  Spectrophotometer testing indicates that as a concentrated extract of Krameria triandra it absorbs 25 to 30% of the amount of UV radiation typically absorbed by octyl methoxycinnamate (2).

Phytochemistry: Tannic acid: rhataniatannic acid, peculiar acid principle: krameric acid, phlobaphene, phloroglucin, oligomeric proanthocyanidins (Scholz and Rimpler, 1989), procyanidins, neolignans (Marina et al, 2002), lignin, tannin and wax.

For more information:

"Krameria Triandra studies"

References________________________________________________________________________

Carini M, Aldini G, Orioli M, Facino RM. Antioxidant and photoprotective activity of a lipophilic extract containing neolignans from Krameria triandra roots. Planta Med. 2002 Mar;68(3):193-7. doi: 10.1055/s-2002-23167.

(2) Korać RR, Khambholja KM. Potential of herbs in skin protection from ultraviolet radiation. Pharmacogn Rev. 2011 Jul;5(10):164-73. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.91114.

(3) Singh, A. P. (2007). Krameria triandra (R. and P.): Source of Tannin. Ethnobotanical Leaflets, 2007(1), 11.