Calendula officinalis L. – Marigold
Asteraceae (Compositae) – Aster (Composite)
Parts used in medicine include the marigold ligulate flower and marigold flower head, harvested during blooming from June to September and dried in natural conditions.
Marigold – appearance and origin:
Marigold is grown in gardens as a decorative plant and on plantations for sourcing the raw material. It originates from the Mediterranean where it grows in the wild. Annual, herbaceous, reaching 30-50 cm in height, fragile ribbed stem, lightly pubescent, with 2 types of leaves. The therapeutic material is the capitulum with dark orange flowers surrounded by two rows of elongated, sharp bracts. Numerous peripheral rays, elongated, narrowed at the top and ended with 3 serrations. Few central tubular disc florets.
Marigold – effects and use:
Among the active substances of Calendulae flos the most important group are the triterpene saponosides, oleanolic acid derivatives, called calendulosides A-F, whose content in the raw material is 3-10%. Flavonoid content reaches 0,3-1,5% and includes mainly isorhamnetin and quercetin glycosides. Another group are triterpenes: triterpene alcohols α-amyrin and β-amyrin, taraxasterol and calenduladiol, arnidiol and faradiol and its esters. The marigold capitulum also contains essential oil (0,02%), polyacetylenes. carotenoids (up to 3%) – mainly lycopene, xantophyll and polysaccharides of ramnoarabinogalactan and arabinogalactan, and also phytosterols, phenolic acids and manganese salts.
Calundulae flos is a raw material with traditional indications:
– Cleansing of the liver
– Treating peptic ulcers
– Painful menstruation
– Speeding up epidermis generation and relieving inflammation.
The beneficial activity on wound healing was observed for thermal, radiation burns and skin injuries. A 2008 study found that marigold flower extract was highly efficient in relieving burns.
Externally: inflammations of the skin, oral and pharyngeal mucosa, vaginal and rectal mucosa; burns, venous ulcers of the lower leg and frostbite.
Among many benefits of marigold, the following deserve special attention:
– Antioxidant
Polyphenols and flavonoids contained in marigold flowers are potent antioxidants. It is crucial in relieving the side effects of UV radiation and other radiations.
– Antibacterial and antiviral
Many studies point to marigold flowers' efficacy against bacteria, viruses and fungi, and also against flu and herpes viruses.
- Immunity
Some studies show that specific active substance groups in Calendulae flos exhibit immunomodulatory activity.
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