Althaea rosea flower extract is obtained from Althaea rosea, more commonly known as the Hollyhock, is a flowering plant that is part of the mallow family (a plant belonging to the botanical family Malvaceae).

Name breakdown and function of the components

• Althaea rosea - This is the scientific name for the Garden Hibiscus or Hollyhock, an ornamental plant commonly also used in herbal medicine.
• Flower - Refers to the bloom of the plant. The flowers of Althaea rosea contain mucilages, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds.
• Extract - Indicates that the product is a concentration of some components of the flower.

Description and function of the raw materials used in production

• Althaea rosea flowers - The primary source of mucilages, flavonoids, and other beneficial compounds.
• Solvent (like water or ethyl alcohol) - Used to extract the beneficial compounds from the flowers.

Summary of the extraction process step by step

• Collection and preparation of the flowers - Flowers are harvested and cleaned from impurities.
• Shredding - The flowers are shredded into smaller pieces to increase the surface area in contact with the solvent.
• Extraction - The shredded material is soaked in the solvent for a specified period, allowing the compounds to diffuse into the solvent.
• Filtration - Once extraction is complete, the solution is filtered to remove any residual solid particles.
• Evaporation - The solvent is then evaporated, leaving behind the concentrated Althaea rosea extract.
• Stabilization and preservation - The extract may be further treated or stabilized for long-term storage.

What it is for and where

Cosmetics

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

CAS   90045-76-4

EC number   289-940-2

Commercial applications

Cosmetic and Skincare Products: Due to its emollient and soothing properties, it can be incorporated into creams, lotions, and products for sensitive or irritated skin.

Products for Treating Skin Conditions: The extract might be used in products aimed at soothing redness, irritations, and other minor skin conditions.

Properties

Emollient: Helps to soften and moisturize the skin.

Soothing: Offers relief to irritated or inflamed skin.

Anti-inflammatory: Can assist in reducing skin inflammation.

Studies

The phytochemical composition of Althaea rosea includes polysaccharides, flavonoids, phenolic acids and tannins with antioxidant activity (1), and traditional medical science has attributed non-toxic inflammation-inhibiting therapeutic actions to this plant (2).

A recent study showed that the ethyl acetate extract of Althaea rosea flower had a therapeutic effect on tetrodotoxin poisoning (3).

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Liu F, Liu W, Tian S. Artificial neural network optimization of Althaea rosea seeds polysaccharides and its antioxidant activity. Int J Biol Macromol. 2014 Sep;70:100-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.06.040.

(2) Choi ES, Cho SD, Shin JA, Kwon KH, Cho NP, Shim JH. Althaea rosea Cavanil and Plantago major L. suppress neoplastic cell transformation through the inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor kinase. Mol Med Rep. 2012 Oct;6(4):843-7. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2012.977.

Abstract. For thousands of years in Asia, Althaea rosea Cavanil (ARC) and Plantago major L. (PML) have been used as powerful non-toxic therapeutic agents that inhibit inflammation. However, the anticancer mechanisms and molecular targets of ARC and PML are poorly understood, particularly in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced neoplastic cell transformation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemopreventive effects and mechanisms of the methanol extracts from ARC (MARC) and PML (MPML) in EGF-induced neoplastic cell transformation of JB6 P+ mouse epidermal cells using an MTS assay, anchorage-independent cell transformation assay and western blotting. Our results showed that MARC and MPML significantly suppressed neoplastic cell transformation by inhibiting the kinase activity of the EGF receptor (EGFR). The activation of EGFR by EGF was suppressed by MARC and MPML treatment in EGFR(+/+) cells, but not in EGFR(-/-) cells. In addition, MARC and MPML inhibited EGF-induced cell proliferation in EGFR-expressing murine embryonic fibroblasts (EGFR(+/+)). These results strongly indicate that EGFR targeting by MARC and MPML may be a good strategy for chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic applications.

(3) Wang Y, Zheng R, Wu P, Wu Y, Huang L, Huang L. Determination of Multiple Neurotransmitters through LC-MS/MS to Confirm the Therapeutic Effects of Althaea rosea Flower on TTX-Intoxicated Rats. Molecules. 2023 May 18;28(10):4158. doi: 10.3390/molecules28104158. 

Abstract. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) inhibits neurotransmission in animals, and there is no specific antidote. In clinical practice in China, Althaea rosea (A. rosea flower) extract has been used to treat TTX poisoning. In this work, the efficacy of the ethyl acetate fraction extract of A. rosea flower in treating TTX poisoning in rats was investigated. A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to determine nine neurotransmitters in rat brain tissue, including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), noradrenaline (NE), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), epinephrine (E), and tyramine (Tyn). The detoxifying effect of A. rosea flower was verified by comparing the changes in neurotransmitters' content in brain tissue before and after poisoning in rats. The assay was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The quantification method was performed by plotting an internal-standard working curve with good linearity (R2 > 0.9941) and sensitivity. Analyte recoveries were 94.04-107.53% (RSD < 4.21%). Results indicated that the levels of 5-HT, DA, E, and NE in the brains of TTX-intoxicated rats decreased, whereas the levels of GABA, Tyn, and 5-HIAA showed an opposite trend, and HVA and DOPAC were not detected. The levels of all seven neurotransmitters returned to normal after the gavage administration of ethyl acetate extract of A. rosea flower to prove that the ethyl acetate extract of A. rosea flower had a therapeutic effect on TTX poisoning. The work provided new ideas for studies on TTX detoxification.