HABERLEA RHODOPENSIS – EFFECTS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

In recent years, interest in the plant, natural products as an alternative to the conventional ones has increased. Since ancient times the plant Rhodope silivryak (Haberlea rhodopensis Friv.) had been known for the treatment of humans and animals. The plant is also called Orpheus. The flower refers to the 'resurrecting' plants and it is spread in the Rhodopes Mountains. A number of properties have been studied and described: antioxidant, radioprotective, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, anticancer, immunostimulatory, chemoprotective, cytotoxic and anti-aging of Haberlea rhodopensis. Its essential components are myconoside , ferulic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, luteolin, quercetin, hesperidin, sinapic acid, etc. Haberlea rhodopensis extracts did not show any cytotoxic activity. The aim of this review is the effects of Haberlea rhodopensis and its potential applications in phytotherapy, human and veterinary medicine, and cosmetics.