Description

Helichrysum angustifolium, commonly known as narrow-leaved everlasting or narrow-leaved strawflower, is a perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region. This plant is valued for its aromatic foliage and long-lasting flowers, which are often used in ornamental and medicinal applications. It is known for its essential oil, which is renowned for its therapeutic properties.

Botanical Classification:

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Helichrysum
Species: Helichrysum angustifolium

Plant Characteristics: Helichrysum angustifolium is characterized by:

Flowers: The plant produces small, yellow to golden flowers that are arranged in dense clusters. The flowers have a straw-like texture and retain their shape and color when dried.
Leaves: The leaves are narrow, linear, and covered with fine, silvery or grayish hairs. They are aromatic and release a pleasant fragrance when crushed.
Growth Habit: A perennial herb that typically grows to a height of 30-60 cm. It has a bushy appearance with multiple stems emerging from a woody base.
Soil and Light: Prefers well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils and full sunlight. It is well-adapted to dry, rocky conditions and exhibits high drought tolerance.

Chemical Composition and Structure: The chemical composition of Helichrysum angustifolium includes:

Essential Oils: Contains essential oils rich in compounds such as italidiones, neryl acetate, and alpha-pinene. These compounds contribute to the plant’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
Flavonoids: Includes flavonoids like quercetin and luteolin, which enhance the plant’s antioxidant activity.
Tannins: Present in the leaves and flowers, contributing to astringent properties.
Vitamins and Minerals: Contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals that support overall health.

Uses and Benefits:

Cosmetic: The essential oil of Helichrysum angustifolium is used in skincare products for its anti-aging, healing, and soothing properties. It is included in formulations aimed at reducing the appearance of scars and promoting skin regeneration.
Medicinal: Traditionally used in herbal medicine for its potential benefits in treating skin conditions, wounds, and respiratory issues. It is believed to have mild anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial effects.
Ornamental: Cultivated for its decorative dried flowers, which are used in floral arrangements and as decorative elements due to their long-lasting color and texture.
Aromatic: The plant’s essential oil is used in aromatherapy for its calming and uplifting effects.

Applications:

Cosmetics: Utilized in various skincare products, including creams, serums, and oils, for its regenerative and soothing effects. Helps in reducing scars and improving skin texture.
Medicinal: Employed in herbal remedies and natural treatments for its potential therapeutic benefits, such as wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects.
Ornamental: Grown for its attractive dried flowers, which are used in floral arrangements and crafts.
Aromatic: The essential oil is used in aromatherapy and as a natural fragrance in personal care products.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

Environmental Impact: Well-suited to dry, rocky environments and can help in soil stabilization. Requires minimal water, making it suitable for sustainable gardening practices.
Safety: Generally safe for use in cosmetics and medicinal products. However, individuals with allergies or sensitivities should perform a patch test before using products containing Helichrysum essential oil. The essential oil should be used according to recommended guidelines to avoid adverse effects.

INCI:


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.

Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Skin protectant. It creates a protective barrier on the skin to defend it from harmful substances, irritants, allergens, pathogens that can cause various inflammatory conditions. These products can also improve the natural skin barrier and in most cases more than one is needed to achieve an effective result.

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product.

Perfuming. Unlike fragrance, which can also contain slightly less pleasant or characteristic odours, the term perfume indicates only very pleasant fragrances. Used for perfumes and aromatic raw materials.
Synonyms:

CAS: 90045-56-0 EC number 289-918-2