Common names | blackthorn, sloe

Scientific name | Prunus spinosa

Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | quercetin, kaempferol, avicularin, juglanin, kaempferitrin

Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory

Product name | Blackthorn Flower-APD, Blackthorn Flower-ANB

Plant Story

Prunus spinosa, commonly known as blackthorn or sloe, is a deciduous shrub native to Europe and western Asia. Blackthorn flowers are typically small and white with a sweet and delicate fragrance. They bloom in early spring, usually before the leaves emerge. The flowers give way to the development of small, round fruit known as sloes. When ripe, the fruits become deep purple to black color. Sloes are known for the astringency and are used in various culinary and beverage applications, including sloe gin in Britain. The fruits are too bitter to eat raw, but can be used to make jams, jellies, syrups. The flowers are also edible in moderation, but it can be toxic when consumed in large quantities and long-term consumption is not advised. In folk medicine, the infusion made with blackthorn flowers is known to stimulate appetite and to treat diarrhea. Due to their expectorant properties, the flowers can fight common cold and cough. 

The studies about chemical constituents of Prunus spinosa flowers revealed that they contain various flavonoids, A-type proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids. Their phytochemical profile consists of quercetin and kaempferol and their derivatives, epicatechin, caffeic acid, and p-coumaric acid and so on. The anti-oxidant activities of flower extracts were shown by DPPH, FRAP, and TBARS assays. The extracts were also shown their inhibitory activities against pro-inflammatory enzymes such as lipoxygenase and hyaluronidase.