In recent years we have been witnessing a wider spread of bacteria and viruses, and in particular their ability to acquire resistance to various treatments. This has led the scientific community to look also to the plant world for extracts that may have the potential to provide relief from infections of the respiratory system. Among these, cistus has proved effective in cases of respiratory disorders typical of winter, starting with the common cold.

The extract acts by binding directly to viral surface proteins, as in the case of rhinoviruses, which are responsible for the most common colds. Its activity is also expressed by supporting the first line of immune defence that everyone is born with. It can be found in combination with Echinacea purpurea fresh plant juice, working synergistically against typical winter ailments.

Cistus incanus, also known as hairy rockrose or pink rockrose, is an evergreen shrub common along our Mediterranean coastlines, belonging to the family Cistaceae. It flowers from March to June, with flowers that have a characteristically crinkled appearance and an intense pink colour, which is why it is commonly called rosola. It is a pyrophytic plant that grows spontaneously in soils impoverished by the passage of fires, in scrubland, dry meadows and the calcareous coastal areas of the Mediterranean basin.

Only recently has the use of its aqueous extract become established; it contains a high percentage of highly polymeric polyphenols with a distinctive composition: protocatechuic acid, kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, epigallocatechins, catechins, rutin, procyanidins, proanthocyanidins and gallic acid, which set it apart and lend it a marked anti-inflammatory value.

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By Bios Line.