Birch Leaf Extract

Birch trees are widely used by herbalists in Europe for both their bark and leaves. The leaves of the tree contain a great variety of flavonoids, including quercetin and hyperoside as well as tannins, saponins, potassium and Vitamin C. Flavonoids are one of the most characteristic chemical compounds in birch leaves. They are present in plants both in a bound state with a sugar residue (glycosides), and in unbound forms (aglycones). Tannins are another type of polymeric phenolic compound that have the ability to naturally tan hides and precipitate gelatine. Found in almost every part of the plant, their molecular weight varies between 500 and 3000. An important fact about tannins is that they have the ability to form hydrophobic, hydrogen, and covalent bonds with proteins. Terpenes are part of the essential oils of plants and have an isoprene structure. Chemical and spectroscopic Dammaranetriterpenes have been identified in birch leaves.