Common Name(s): Haberlea rhodopensis leaf extract,haberlea rhodopensis leaf extract,resurrection plant active,anhydrobiosis desiccation protection
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides extreme desiccation protection from trehalose water-replacement chemistry and lea protein structural stabilisation — the mechanisms that enable the plant to survive complete desiccation providing cosmetic skin barrier protection under environmental desiccation stress.
Why It's Used: Resurrection plant chemistry provides the most extreme natural desiccation protection chemistry — vascular plants surviving complete desiccation represent an evolutionary pinnacle of drought adaptation unavailable from conventional botanical sources.
How It Works: Haberlea desiccation protection: trehalose (up to 15% dry weight) h-bonds to protein and membrane surfaces replacing water molecules → glass-state protein preservation. lea proteins (intrinsically disordered) coat cellular structures as hydrophilic 'molecular chaperones' preventing aggregation during desiccation. the vacuolar antioxidant enzyme upregulation (sod, cat, apx) scavenges ros produced during dehydration.
Typically Found In: Premium anti-aging,extreme desiccation protection,niche actives
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient – antioxidant
Secondary Functions: Free radical scavenging,anti-aging
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–3%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; well-tolerated.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Vitamin c,vitamin e,ferulic acid,spf,other antioxidants
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Only 135 known vascular plant resurrection species exist on earth — haberlea rhodopensis is among the most accessible for cosmetic sourcing from cultivated balkan populations, providing authentic resurrection plant chemistry with documented in-vitro desiccation protection efficacy.
Last Verified: 2026-03-22
Primary Sources: Cosing database,haberlea rhodopensis resurrection plant anhydrobiosis desiccation review