Malva sylvestris extract is the extract obtained by drying the plant of the same name and subsequent extraction using water vapour and water.

It appears in the form of a yellowish to brown powder.

Mallow (Malva sylvestris L.), a plant belonging to the Malvaceae family, is found in Europe, Asia and North Africa.

What it is used for and where

Medical

Due to its wide use and medicinal importance, many studies have been carried out; however, the information in the literature is many and very scattered, making it difficult to use (1).

In Mallow there are powerful antioxidants (phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and tocopherols), unsaturated fatty acids (e.g. alpha-linolenic acid) (2), and 143 volatile compounds have been catalogued including Hexadecanoic acid, Linalool, Limonene, Menthol, Eugenol, Tocopherol (3), Scopoletin, Chloroform, Malvidin.

The aim of this study was to study the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Malva sylvestris extract and fractions in a co-culture model of cells infected with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The chloroform fraction was the most effective in reducing bacterial colonization. Mallow sylvestris and its chloroform fraction minimized Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans infection and inflammation processes in oral human cells (4).

The leaves have topical anti-inflammatory activity, the compound 3-glucoside malvidin seems to be primarily responsible for this effect, with the participation of other anti-inflammatory compounds in the extract, such as Scopolamin and Malvidin and therefore mallow can be used as a future treatment for skin disorders (5).

This study confirms the cardioprotective effects of MS in reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory response in this study confirms the cardioprotective effects of Malva sylvestris L. in reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory response in ischemia/reperfusion rats (6).

Cosmetics

Mallow extract is derived from flowers and leaves and contains flavonoids, tannins and mucilage which have a moisturising and emollient effect and a soothing effect on dry skin. Moisturisers are different in nature: the best are the natural ones that exploit the mechanism of integration between the ingredient and the skin by moisturising the horny hydrolipidic film, that is, the thin protective layer that covers the epidermis protecting it from harmful external microbes, keeping the skin moisturised and supple and its pH or acidity value between 4 and 6.  Then there are the occlusive moisturisers, generally derived from petroleum (Paraffinum, Paraffinum liquidum and others), but also triglycerides, lanolin oil, natural or synthetic waxes, fatty acid esters and others that create an artificial occlusive layer on the stratum corneum of the skin with the advantage of accelerating the protective process but with the disadvantage of preventing the natural transpiration of the skin.

The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents:

Mallow studies

References________________________________________________________________________

(1) Gasparetto JC, Martins CA, Hayashi SS, Otuky MF, Pontarolo R. Ethnobotanical and scientific aspects of Malva sylvestris L.: a millennial herbal medicine. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2012. February; 64(2):172–89. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.2011.01383.x

(2) Barros L, Carvalho AM, Ferreira IC. Leaves, flowers, immature fruits and leafy flowered stems of Malva sylvestris: a comparative study of the nutraceutical potential and composition. Food Chem Toxicol. 2010. June; 48(6):1466–72. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2010.03.012

(3) Characterization of aroma-active compounds in dry flower of Malva sylvestris L. by GC-MS-O analysis and OAV calculations.  Usami A, Kashima Y, Marumoto S, Miyazawa M. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2012 Feb;64(2):172-89. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.2011.01383.x. 

(4) Malva sylvestris Inhibits Inflammatory Response in Oral Human Cells. An In Vitro Infection Model.  Benso B, Rosalen PL, Alencar SM, Murata RM.  PLoS One. 2015 Oct 19;10(10):e0140331. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140331. eCollection 2015.

(5) Pre-clinical anti-inflammatory aspects of a cuisine and medicinal millennial herb: Malva sylvestris L. Prudente AS, Loddi AM, Duarte MR, Santos AR, Pochapski MT, Pizzolatti MG, Hayashi SS, Campos FR, Pontarolo R, Santos FA, Cabrini DA, Otuki MF.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2013 Aug;58:324-31. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.04.042. Epub 2013 May 16.

(6) Cardioprotective effect of Malva sylvestris L. in myocardial ischemic/reprefused rats.  Zuo H, Li Y, Cui Y, An Y.  Biomed Pharmacother. 2017 Nov;95:679-684. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.08.111.