Rosa centifolia, also known as Provence rose or Cabbage rose, has been known for centuries as a flower with a hundred leaves used for ornamental and manufacturing purposes. It is a hybrid of Roses Gallica, Moschata, Canina, and Damascena.
It has three times less essential oil than R. Damascena, so it is used mainly for the production of rose water and a concentrate rich in terpenes, glycosides, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Rosa centifolia has great therapeutic benefits, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and aromatherapeutic properties. The concentrate has physiological and psychological relaxation, analgesic, and anti-anxiety effects.
Researchers also identified the antimutagenic and antioxidant effects of anthocyanins and polyphenols extracted from Rosa centifolia, which preserve the continuity of the DNA and RNA chains of the skin cells. Provence rose flower extract has an anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity that may be compatible with the effectiveness of Indometacin ointment. It soothes the skin and reduces irritation and edema.
Aromatherapy with Cabbage rose decreases sympathetic nervous system activity, lowering heart rate and amplitude, systolic blood pressure, and anxiety in the active phase. Moreover, olfactory stimulation reduces plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenalin analogs), supporting relaxation and comfort.