Leontopodium alpinum (synonym of L. nivale) is native to alpine areas of Europe. The flower has beautiful white petal-like structures with yellow pollen in the center. The structures are leaves covered with soft white fluffy hair. Commonly known as Edelweiss, the name is derived from the German meaning noble-white and symbolizes lasting love and purity. Edelweiss is the national flower of Switzerland and Austria and is used in Germany for weddings and souvenirs. Edelweiss has a long history of use in Western Herbal Medicine for inflammatory and respiratory diseases and to ease the pain. Edelweiss has been used in the beauty industry for years and has been used in UV protective agents.

Edelweiss has been reported to have anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. It contains phenylpropanoids such as quercetin, leontopodic acids, and their derivatives. The ethanol extract from the callus cultures of L. alpinum showed an anti-inflammatory effect on primary human skin keratinocytes and endothelial cells, which were stimulated by UV radiation, LPS, and proinflammatory cytokines.