Synonym(s)
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Fast-growing, thistle-like, annual, herbaceous plant species from the Asteraceae family. The safflower is native to Egypt and the Near East to Central Europe. It is now also cultivated in Europe, North America and Australia. Safflower is mainly cultivated for its oily seeds.
Due to its high content of unsaturated fatty acids, safflower oil is used in diets to lower cholesterol levels and prevent arteriosclerosis and has a mild laxative effect.
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The flowers are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Safflower oil inthe diet as a prophylaxis for arteriosclerosis (lowering cholesterol levels); mildly laxative, used for Crohn's disease. External: Wounds, scars, bruises and sprains
General informationThis section has been translated automatically.
The plant reaches growth heights of 60 to 130 centimetres. Its elongated leaves with a length of 10-15 cm and a width of 2.5-5 cm are thorny. The flowers are orange. The nut fruits of the safflower contain oil. The oil content is 20 and 40 % of dry matter.
The safflower is cultivated mainly for the safflower oil obtained from the seeds, a fatty oil containing very high levels of linoleic acid, oleic acid and palmitic acid, which is also technically used as an edible oil.
Naturopathy: The safflower is the parent plant of Flores carthamine, the naturopathically used extract from the flowers of the plant; furthermore of Oleum carthami, the thistle oil also called safflower oil.
Cosmetics: Derivatives of fatty acids extracted from carthami oil are used in cosmetics:
- Safflower glycerides (INCI)
- Saffloweramidopropyl ethyldimonium ethosulfate (INCI)
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer
Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles