Rosa Canina
Rosehips are the small, round scarlet pseudo-fruits of the rose found just below rose petals. The value of the rosehip has been known for a long time, as findings in prehistoric settlements show. Ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Persians all appreciated the benefits of the fruit. Its name Kynoroda in Greek suggests its main use against dog bites. Although there are several hundred species of roses almost all over the world, research on rosehips has focused on the plant Rosa canina, a native shrub abundant in Europe.
A drink for defence
Compared to other fruits and vegetables, rose hips offer one of the highest levels of vitamin C, as well as vitamins B and E, polyphenols and carotenoids. All valuable components of rose hips help strengthen and protect the immune system. Given the high content of bioactive molecules in plants of the genus Rosa, rosehip has attracted the interest of researchers for its potential dynamics in the treatment of many disorders related to oxidative stress or inflammation and the results of studies so far are very promising for the future.
