Common names | heartsease, wild pansy

Scientific name | Viola tricolor

Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | salicylates, rutin

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

Product name | Heartsease-APD, Heartsease-ANB

Plant Story

Viola tricolor, commonly known as heartsease or wild pansy is a flowering plant native to Europe and parts of Asia. It is characterized by its small, tricolored flowers, which are typically purple, yellow, and white. The flowers are edible, and have been used in salads, desserts, and beverages. V. tricolor has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine for various purposes. The extracts and infusions have been used topically to alleviate skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. In herbal remedies, it has been used for respiratory conditions like coughs, bronchitis, and sore throats due to potential soothing and expectorant properties. It can be applied externally to the skin to soothe and relieve pain associated with acne.

The main constituents of V. tricolor are flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, saponins, tannins, and salicylic compounds. The main flavonoids of V. tricolor are violanthin and rutin (quercetin 3-rutinoside) along with quercetin, luteolin, and luteolin 7-glucoside. Various phenolic acids of V. tricolor include caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, protocatechuic acid, salicylic acid and its derivatives. Scientific data confirmed the anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities of V. tricolor.