Calluna vulgaris flower extract è l'estratto che si ottiene per essicazione delle foglie e fiori dell'omonima piccola pianta perenne Calluna vulgaris L. Hull, che appartiene alla famiglia delle Ericaceae ed è anche chiamata Erica comune o Erica scozzese o pianta di Ling. 

E' una delle piante ornamentali più diffuse in Europa, Nord America, Australia e Nuova Zelanda. Può raggiungere il metro in altezza e fiorisce da maggio ad ottobre con fiori di colore rosa intenso o viola distribuiti in lunghi grappoli.

L'estratto si presenta in forma di polvere fine con colore da giallo scuro a marrone.

A cosa serve e dove si usa

Medicina

Calluna vulgaris è da tempo conosciuta ed utilizzata dalla medicina tradizionale per il potenziale terapeutico dei suoi composti fenolici inseriti in un interessante profilo fitochimico (1): 

• acidi fenolici: cumarina, acido caffeico, acido idrossicinnamico, acido clorogenico
• acidi grassi: acido linolenico, acido linoleico, acido arachidonico
• flavonoidi: kaempferol, quercetina, rutina,luteolina, isoquercetina
• ed inoltre: tannini, glicosidi, terpenoidi,  triterpenoidi, catechine.

che conferisce a questa pianta attività antiossidante, antinfiammatoria, antimicrobica, chemioprotettiva. e i fiori contengono  il valore nutritivo più elevato, tant'è che viene utilizzata come parte integrante della risorsa pastorale in Europa. Tutte queste attività positive dipendono comunque da tutta una serie di fattori: stagione, altitudine, clima. Entrando nello specifico campo della sua attività salutare è da notare che la letteratura scientifica ha evidenziato che i componenti di questa pianta hanno anche altre ed importanti specifiche attività: contro il virus dell'epatite C (2), la gotta (3), esposizioni eccessive a raggi ultravioletti (4), infezioni del tratto urinario (5).

Cosmetica

Il contenuto di biofenoli e la capacità antiossidante dell'estratto di Calluna vulgaris rispondono all'esigenza crescente di sostituire i composti sintetici comunemente usati in cosmetica per la conservazione dei prodotti e per evitarne il deterioramento. Sulla pelle ha un effetto antinfiammatorio sulle cellule citochine (minuscole proteine che fungono da agenti di comunicazione del sistema immunitario) proteggendo lo strato corneo da raggi UV e inibendone la perossidazione indotta.

Calluna vulgaris studi

Bibliografia_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Allais, D. P., Simon, A., Bennini, B., Chulia, A. J., Kaouadji, M., & Christiane, D. (1991). Flavone and flavonol glycosides from Calluna vulgaris. Phytochemistry, 30(9), 3099-3101.

Monschein, M., Iglesias Neira, J., Kunert, O., & Bucar, F. (2010). Phytochemistry of heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull) and its altitudinal alteration. Phytochemistry Reviews, 9(2), 205-215.

Abstract. Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull (heather) is the only species within the genus Calluna (Ericaceae). It is a dominant species of heather communities and can be found in most parts of Europe and Northern America from lowland up to alpine regions. Common heather is traditionally used to treat urinary tract disturbances and inflammatory related disorders. This review covers the current knowledge on phytochemical investigations of C. vulgaris which revealed a complex pattern of flavonoid glycosides including acetylated compounds as well as other classes of phenolics (chromones, procyanidins and simple phenols). Recently, an acetophenone (rodiolinozide) was identified. C. vulgaris occurs in habitats comprising several altitudinal zones which makes it an attractive species to study the variation of its metabolic profiles in wild populations growing under different climatic conditions. Within phenolic compounds, flavonols showed significant differences in samples collected at different altitudes with increased levels of quercetin glycosides at higher altitudes whereas no significant correlation could be found for caffeoyl quinic acids and the dihydroflavonol glycoside callunin. Expanding such investigations to different species and different geographical areas should give a more accurate picture of suitable marker compounds within the group of phenolics in order to detect adaptive processes in high altitude plants. Furthermore, investigations on the specific patterns of phenolics at cellular and subcellular level and their variation due to factors like enhanced solar radiation and low temperature should be expanded.

Rodrigues F, Moreira T, Pinto D, Pimentel FB, Costa ASG, Nunes MA, Gonçalves Albuquerque T, S Costaa H, Palmeira-de-Oliveira A, Oliveira AI, Sut S, Dall'Acqua S, Oliveira MBPP. The phytochemical and bioactivity profiles of wild Calluna vulgaris L. flowers. Food Res Int. 2018 Sep;111:724-731. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2018.06.012. 

Abstract. The nutritional composition of Calluna vulgaris flowers as well as the phytochemical profile, antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP assays), antimicrobial and cytotoxic (in human immortalized non-tumorigenic keratinocyte and fibroblasts) activities of aqueous, hydroalcoholic and ethanolic extracts were evaluated. A high content of fiber and carbohydrates (75%) and the prevalence of α-tocopherol as vitamer deserves attention. Linolenic (35%), linoleic (27%) and palmitic (21%) acids were the most abundant fatty acids. Qualitative and quantitative analysis by LC-MS and 1NMR indicated high levels of quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin derivatives as well as procyanidins. The hydro-alcoholic extract displayed the highest antioxidant activity and total phenolics (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC). No adverse effects on cells were observed until a concentration of 100 μg/mL and a good antimicrobial activity was reported against S. epidermidis and S. aureus with the hydro-alcoholic extract. The data obtained demonstrated that wild plants like heather, although not being a common nutritional reference, can be used in an alimentary base as a source of bioactive compounds, namely antioxidants.

(2) García-Risco MR, Vázquez E, Sheldon J, Steinmann E, Riebesehl N, Fornari T, Reglero G. Supercritical fluid extraction of heather (Calluna vulgaris) and evaluation of anti-hepatitis C virus activity of the extracts. Virus Res. 2015 Feb 16;198:9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.12.022. 

(3) Vostinaru, O., Dinte, E., Soran, M. L., Lung, I., Opris, O., & Mogosan, C. (2018). Evaluation of the Anti-Gout Potential of Calluna vulgaris L.(Ericaceae) in Rats. Records of Natural Products, 12(5).

Abstract. The present study evaluated the anti-gout potential of an ethanolic extract from Calluna vulgaris L. Hull (ECV). A preliminary phytochemical analysis of ECV was performed by spectrophotometric and HPLCPDA-MS methods. Hypouricemic effect of ECV was tested in vivo using the oxonate-induced hyperuricemia model in rats, systolic blood pressure being also monitored in hyperuricemic animals. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of ECV were investigated by the carrageenan-induced paw oedema and Randall-Selitto test in rats. The results of the phytochemical analysis of the extract obtained from C. vulgaris showed the main chemical constituents were flavonoids and chlorogenic acid. ECV showed significant and dose-dependent hypouricemic effects in oxonate-treated rats, increasing the urinary excretion of uric acid. The tested extract produced statistically significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects at the dose of 500 mg/kg. This study offers a new perspective regarding the anti-gout potential of C. vulgaris.

(4) Olteanu ED, Filip A, Clichici S, Daicoviciu D, Achim M, Postescu ID, Bolfa P, Bolojan L, Vlase L, Muresan A. Photochemoprotective effect of Calluna vulgaris extract on skin exposed to multiple doses of ultraviolet B in SKH-1 hairless mice. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2012;31(3):233-43. doi: 10.1615/jenvironpatholtoxicoloncol.v31.i3.50.

Abstract. UVB is a major cause of nonmelanoma skin cancer in humans. Photochemoprevention represents an important strategy in protecting the skin against the detrimental effects of ultraviolet B (UVB). We investigated the activity of Calluna vulgaris (Cv) delivered via a hydrogel on 3 main pathways (oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage) on skin exposed to multiple doses of UVB in SKH-1 mice. Fifty female mice were divided randomly into 5 groups: control, vehicle, UVB irradiated, Cv + UVB irradiated, and Cv + vehicle + UVB irradiated. The extract was applied topically on the skin in a dose of 4 mg polyphenols/cm2 30 minutes before each UVB (240 mJ/cm2) exposure over 10 consecutive days. Malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) levels, sunburn cell formation and epidermal thickness, and the number of epidermal cell layers in skin were evaluated 24 hours after the last treatment. UVB increased cytokine levels (P < 0.001), formation of CPDs (P < 0.001) and sunburn cells (P < 0.001), and the epidermal thickness and number of epidermal cell layers (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. The topical application of Cv protected the skin against inflammation and DNA damage, as shown by a decreased number of CPDs (P < 0.001) and sunburn cells (P < 0.001). The administration of Cv via hydrogel may be a viable method for chemoprevention..

(5) Vučić DM, Petković MR, Rodić-Grabovac BB, Stefanović OD, Vasić SM, Comić LR. In vitro activity of heather [Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull] extracts on selected urinary tract pathogens. Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2014 Nov 15;14(4):234-8. doi: 10.17305/bjbms.2014.4.40.

Abstract. Calluna vulgaris L. Hull (Ericaceae) has been used for treatment of urinary tract infections in traditional medicine. In this study we analyzed in vitro antibacterial activity of the plant extracts on different strains of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus vulgaris, as well as the concentrations of total phenols and flavonoids in the extracts. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. The concentrations of total phenols were examined by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and ranged between 67.55 to 142.46 mg GAE/g. The concentrations of flavonoids in extracts were determined using spectrophotometric method with aluminum chloride and the values ranged from 42.11 to 63.68 mg RUE/g. The aqueous extract of C. vulgaris showed a significant antibacterial activity. The values of MIC were in the range from 2.5 mg/ml to 20 mg/ml for this extract. Proteus vulgaris strains were found to be the most sensitive. The results obtained suggest that all tested extracts of C. vulgaris inhibit the growth of human pathogens, especially the aqueous extract.