Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Cistus laurifolius leaves have been used in traditional medicine as aromatic infusions and decoctions. In parts of Turkey, villagers boil fresh or dried aerial parts to make a tea taken for colds, coughs, and mild fevers, and also as a diuretic tea for urinary complaints; in the same region the leaves are sometimes chewed fresh or applied as a poultice to minor wounds and inflamed skin (Tuzlaci, 2004; Cakilcioglu et al., 2011). In the eastern Mediterranean, rural households collect the young leaves and flowers to prepare a modestly bitter tea believed to aid digestion and relieve sore throats; shepherds in parts of southern Europe likewise sip a leaf infusion for colds or to soothe gastrointestinal upset (Ghirardini et al., 2001). Across these areas the remedy is generally taken in small cup‑sized doses, often after meals (Heuzé & Rostaing, 2023). As with many resinous cistus species, preparations are typically short and hot to maximize the release of aromatic compounds; the plant is not used chronically in the cited records.

To illustrate a straightforward method, a simple cooling‑season tea uses 1–2 g of dried aerial parts steeped for 5–7 minutes in 200 mL of near‑boiling water and strained; one to two cups a day are typical in the region. For a stronger throat soother or mild astringent wash, the same amount of plant material can be boiled in 250 mL water for 10 minutes, cooled to hand temperature, and used as a warm gargle or compress. Safety notes are limited in historic accounts, but modern formulators generally advise short‑term use, avoiding large concentrated decoctions in pregnancy or during breastfeeding unless supervised; people taking anticoagulants should be cautious given the plant’s phenolic content, and anyone with aspirin‑type sensitivity may prefer milder preparations.

The activity of these preparations is plausibly linked to well‑documented constituents in Cistus laurifolius: the phenylpropanoid diterpene carnosic acid, the flavone luteolin, the flavanone naringenin, and a rich suite of condensed tannins and flavonol glycosides, all of which have recognized antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory properties. While individual preparations differ, these constituents are consistently present in aerial parts and in leaf‑focused remedies (Dalar & Guo, 2013; Turkmen et al., 2015).

Contemporary relevance follows the traditional practice: recent pharmacological work supports antioxidant and mild anti‑inflammatory effects, and commercial herbal teas made from Cistus species—including C. laurifolius—remain available where the plant grows, preserving an enduring regional remedy.

General Uses Top

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Common products:
Leaves and terminal twigs of Cistus laurifolius are distilled to give an essential oil rich in α‑pinene, 1,8‑cineole and viridiflorol (studies report a monoterpene content >60 %). The plant also exudes a resinous gum (rockrose gum) composed mainly of labdane‑type diterpenes. Dried leaf material is used for herbal infusions (rockrose tea) and as a flavoring ingredient in traditional beverages.

Industrial and craft applications:
The gum has been studied for its resinous properties, which may be useful in natural adhesives, varnishes and incense. The essential oil is employed in the perfume industry as a fragrance material for soaps, detergents and fine fragrances, and as a fixative in natural incense blends.

Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
Dried leaf material is steeped to produce a lightly aromatic tea consumed as a beverage in parts of Greece. The leaf extract has also been used as a flavoring in certain traditional herbal liqueurs.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The essential oil, due to its monoterpene‑rich profile, is incorporated into cosmetic and toiletry products for scent and as a natural preservative in emulsions. The gum serves as a fixative and natural resin in fragrance bases.

Properties relevant to use:
The essential oil contains 60–70 % monoterpenes (α‑pinene, limonene, 1,8‑cineole) and 10–15 % sesquiterpenes (viridiflorol), giving a fresh, resinous odor. The gum’s high diterpenoid content (labdadiene‑15‑ol, labdadiene‑15‑yl acetate) yields a thermoplastic material with a softening point near 120 °C, enabling use as an adhesive or varnish resin. Leaves also contain about 8 % hydrolyzable tannins, providing natural brown‑dye potential for protein fibers.

Standards and regulation:
The essential oil and resin are covered by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) standards for safety and usage limits. In the European Union, extracts of C. laurifolius may be used as natural flavorings under Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, provided they meet purity criteria. The gum conforms to European standards for natural‑resin adhesives and varnishes.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Cistus laurifolius grows wild in Mediterranean maquis and is subject to collection pressure. Sustainable harvesting guidelines recommend selective cutting, replanting, and avoidance of over‑exploitation. Pilot cultivation trials in Greece have shown that small‑scale essential‑oil production can provide a viable alternative to wild harvest, helping to preserve natural populations.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Ladanium laurifolium	(L.) Spach	Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 2, 6: 67 (1836)

Common names Top

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Filter by language:

Language	Common/alternative name
Spanish	bordiol
Spanish	churrunera
Spanish	jara borde
Spanish	jara cepa
Spanish	jara de estepa
Spanish	jara de hojas de laurel
Spanish	jara laurifolia
Spanish	jaracepas
Catalan	estepa de muntanya
French	ciste à feuilles de laurier
Hungarian	babérlevelű szuhar
Polish	czystek wawrzynolistny
Swedish	lagercistros
Turkish	defne yapraklı laden
Chinese	桂叶岩蔷薇

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Name	Authority	First published in
Cistus laurifolius subsp. atlanticus	(Pit.) Sennen & Mauricio	Cat. Fl. Rif Orient. 12. 1933 (1933)
Cistus laurifolius subsp. laurifolius		Unknown

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Africa click to expand
- Northern Africa
  - Morocco

Asia-temperate click to expand
- Western Asia
  - Turkey

Europe click to expand
- Southeastern Europe
  - Greece
  - Italy
  - Turkey-in-Europe
- Southwestern Europe
  - Corse
  - France
  - Portugal
  - Spain

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000607419
Tropicos	7600149
INPN	91684
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:168336-1
The Plant List	kew-2723479
Open Tree Of Life	752036
Observations.org	131570
NCBI Taxonomy	335179
NBN Atlas	NBNSYS0000014716
IPNI	168336-1
iNaturalist	133157
GBIF	3596501
Freebase	/m/0jt5xb0
EPPO	CSTLR
Elurikkus	3762
USDA GRIN	10641
Wikipedia	Cistus_laurifolius

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Antimicrobial effects of laurel extract, laurel essential oil, zahter extract, and zahter essential oil on chicken wings contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium

Yilmaz EA, Yalçin H, Polat Z

Vet Med Sci

23-Apr-2024

PMCID:	PMC11037249
doi:	10.1002/vms3.1445
PMID:	38652025

Staphylococcus aureus biofilm: Formulation, regulatory, and emerging natural products-derived therapeutics

Wu X, Wang H, Xiong J, Yang GX, Hu JF, Zhu Q, Chen Z

Biofilm

01-Jan-2024

PMCID:	PMC10827693
doi:	10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100175
PMID:	38298832

Exploring In Vitro the Combination of Cistus × incanus L. and Castanea sativa Mill. Extracts as Food Supplement Ingredients against H. pylori Infection

Martinelli G, Fumagalli M, Pozzoli C, Nicotra G, Vicentini SF, Maranta N, Sangiovanni E, Dell’Agli M, Piazza S

Foods

21-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10778332
doi:	10.3390/foods13010040
PMID:	38201068

Ionomic analysis, polyphenols characterization, analgesic, antiinflammatory and antioxidant capacities of Cistus laurifolius leaves: in vitro, in vivo, and in silico investigations

Zouhri A, Bouddine T, Menyiy NE, Kachkoul R, El-mernissi Y, Siddique F, moubachir R, Khallouki F, Salamatullah AM, Wondmie GF, Bourhia M, Hajji L

Sci Rep

21-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10739726
doi:	10.1038/s41598-023-50031-5
PMID:	38129637

The Influence of the Long-Term Outdoor Storage of Rockrose (Cistus laurifolius L.) Shrub Biomass on Biofuel’s Quality, Pre-Treatment and Combustion Processes

Bados R, Mediavilla I, Tolosana E, Borjabad E, Ramos R, Fernández MJ, Pérez P, Esteban LS

Biology (Basel)

19-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10669369
doi:	10.3390/biology12111451
PMID:	37998050

Metabolic engineering in Streptomyces albidoflavus for the biosynthesis of the methylated flavonoids sakuranetin, acacetin, and genkwanin

Pérez-Valero Á, Ye S, Magadán-Corpas P, Villar CJ, Lombó F

Microb Cell Fact

14-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10648386
doi:	10.1186/s12934-023-02247-3
PMID:	37964284

Mediterranean Plants as Potential Source of Biopesticides: An Overview of Current Research and Future Trends

Fragkouli R, Antonopoulou M, Asimakis E, Spyrou A, Kosma C, Zotos A, Tsiamis G, Patakas A, Triantafyllidis V

Metabolites

22-Aug-2023

PMCID:	PMC10535963
doi:	10.3390/metabo13090967
PMID:	37755247

Potentially harmful elements pollute soil and vegetation around the Atrevida mine (Tarragona, NE Spain)

Roca-Perez L, Boluda R, Rodríguez-Martín JA, Ramos-Miras J, Tume P, Roca N, Bech J

Environ Geochem Health

20-May-2023

PMCID:	PMC10673966
doi:	10.1007/s10653-023-01591-y
PMID:	37209325

The genus Gautieria (Gomphales) in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: a morphological and phylogenetic taxonomic revision

Vidal JM, Cseh P, Merényi Z, Bóna L, Rudnóy S, Bratek Z, Paz A, Mleczko P, Kozak M, Chachuła P, Assyov B, Slavova M, Kaounas V, Konstantinidis G, Rodríguez F, Cabero J, García-Verdugo F, García-Alonso F, Mahiques R, Fantini P, States JS

Persoonia

12-May-2023

PMCID:	PMC10983841
doi:	10.3767/persoonia.2023.50.03
PMID:	38567262

The five Ferulago species inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of A549, MCF-7, PC3 and SW480 cancer cells in vitro

Gurbuz İ, Gunbatan T, Bakar-Ates F, Hoti B, Duman H, Kilic CS

3 Biotech

05-Apr-2023

PMCID:	PMC10076487
doi:	10.1007/s13205-023-03538-7
PMID:	37033384

Efficacy of Two Moroccan Cistus Species Extracts against Acne Vulgaris: Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activities

Bouabidi M, Salamone FL, Gadhi C, Bouamama H, Speciale A, Ginestra G, Pulvirenti L, Siracusa L, Nostro A, Cristani M

Molecules

20-Mar-2023

PMCID:	PMC10054591
doi:	10.3390/molecules28062797
PMID:	36985768

A Comprehensive Review of Natural Flavonoids with Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity

Yang JY, Ma YX, Liu Y, Peng XJ, Chen XZ

Molecules

17-Mar-2023

PMCID:	PMC10054335
doi:	10.3390/molecules28062735
PMID:	36985705

Artificial Intelligence Applied to Improve Scientific Reviews: The Antibacterial Activity of Cistus Plants as Proof of Concept

Álvarez-Martínez FJ, Borrás-Rocher F, Micol V, Barrajón-Catalán E

Antibiotics (Basel)

04-Feb-2023

PMCID:	PMC9952093
doi:	10.3390/antibiotics12020327
PMID:	36830239

An Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Taşköprü (Kastamonu–Turkey)

Senkardes I, Dogan A, Emre G

Front Pharmacol

20-Oct-2022

PMCID:	PMC9630845
doi:	10.3389/fphar.2022.984065
PMID:	36339567

Flavonoids-Rich Plant Extracts Against Helicobacter pylori Infection as Prevention to Gastric Cancer

Ivyna de Araújo Rêgo R, Guedes Silvestre GF, Ferreira de Melo D, Albino SL, Pimentel MM, Silva Costa Cruz SB, Silva Wurzba SD, Rodrigues WF, Goulart de Lima Damasceno BP, Cançado Castellano LR

Front Pharmacol

31-Aug-2022

PMCID:	PMC9470917
doi:	10.3389/fphar.2022.951125
PMID:	36120379

Phytochemical Profile Top

Add a new one!

Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons / Alkanes
Hentriacontane	12410	Click to see	436.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)97696-9
Nonacosane	12409	Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC	408.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)97696-9
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides
4-hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethyl-4-[(E,3R)-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybut-1-enyl]cyclohex-2-en-1-one	6325925	Click to see	386.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81577-0
6S,9R-Roseoside	9930064	Click to see	386.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81577-0
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids
(E)-5-[(1S,2S,4R,4aR,8aR)-2,4-dihydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]-3-methylpent-2-enoic acid	163006114	Click to see	338.50	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81577-0
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives
Ayapin	3083597	Click to see	190.15	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins
Scopoletin	5280460	Click to see	192.17	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89780-0
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones
(+-)-Naringenin	932	Click to see	272.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
(2R)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-chromen-4-one	667495	Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O	272.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Pinocembrin	68071	Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC=CC=C3	256.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1984-3-418 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Apigenin	5280443	Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O	270.24	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89780-0
Luteolin	5280445	Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O	286.24	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1984-3-418 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89780-0
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Isorhamnetin	5281654	Click to see	316.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
Kaempferide	5281666	Click to see	300.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Kaempferol	5280863	Click to see	286.24	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89780-0
Myricetin	5281672	Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O	318.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89780-0
Quercetin	5280343	Click to see	302.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89780-0 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Rhamnazin	5320945	Click to see	330.29	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
Rhamnetin	5281691	Click to see	316.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
Rhamnocitrin	5320946	Click to see	300.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one	5317364	Click to see	436.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Astragalin	5282102	Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Hyperoside	5281643	Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Myricetin 3-arabinoside	21672568	Click to see C1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(OC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O	450.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
myricetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside	5318606	Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O	480.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Myricitrin	5281673	Click to see	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Quercitrin	5280459	Click to see	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids
3-Methoxyluteolin	5280681	Click to see COC1=C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O	316.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Chryseriol	5280666	Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O	300.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Isokaempferide	5280862	Click to see	300.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 4-O-methylated flavonoids
Acacetin	5280442	Click to see	284.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 5-O-methylated flavonoids
2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one	5489501	Click to see	330.29	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
7-O-Methylluteolin	5318214	Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(=CC2=O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)O	300.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207
Genkwanin	5281617	Click to see	284.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
Jaranol	5318869	Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(=C(C2=O)OC)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O	314.29	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
Retusin	5352005	Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC)O)OC)OC	358.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88918-4
Sakuranetin	73571	Click to see	286.28	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1991-1-207

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Cistus laurifolius

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top