INCI name: HEDERA HELIX (Ivy) EXTRACT
Origin
Ivy (Hedera Helix) is native to North Africa and Europe and is common in our forests as an evergreen climbing shrub, often growing as a shade plant on beech and oak trees, but also creeping along the ground.
Active ingredients
Triterpene saponins such as hederacoside A, B and C, beta-hederin, ScoDolin. Falcarion, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, vitamin C and E, beta-carotene, rutin.
Effect
As with most saponin drugs, surface-active properties (foaming action, wetting and dispersing action) play a role. Extracts have expectorant (liquefaction of viscous mucus and stimulation of glandular secretion), spasmolytic (bronchial catarrh, asthma, whooping cough), anti-edematous (hederin), antifungal, antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory) and antiviral effects.
- has an antifungal effect (against fungi)
- effective against viruses
- anti-inflammatory
- decongestant
Use
The external use of ivy is for ulcers, calluses and burns. In cosmetics, ivy leaf extracts are used for their astringent and skin cleansing, firming and strengthening properties.