Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 13: 51-54. 2009. Note on
Pharmacological Activities of Calendula officinalis L. S.Meenatchisundaram*, G.Parameswari,
T.Subbraj, T.Suganya and
A.Michael Department of Microbiology, *Corresponding author. Ph: +91- 422 -09842525152 E.Mail:drmscbe@gmail.com Issued Calendula officinalis, known as Pot Marigold or English
Marigold, is a plant in the Calendula genus.
Calendula officinalis is used for the treatment of skin disorders and
pain, and as a bactericide, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. The petals and
pollen contain triterpenoid esters (an anti-inflammatory) and the carotenoids flavoxanthin and auroxanthin (antioxidants,
and the source of the yellow-orange coloration). The leaves and stems contain
other carotenoids, mostly lutein (80%) and zeaxanthin (5%),
and beta-carotene. Plant extracts are also widely
used by cosmetics, presumably due to presence of compounds such as saponins, resins and essential
oils. Phagocytosis Three polysaccharides isolated from an aqueous
extract of Flos Calendulae enhanced phagocytosis in human granulocytes in
vitro in the colloidal carbon clearance test1. Intraperitoneal
injection of a polysaccharide fraction isolated from an aqueous extract of
the flowers to mice (10 mg/kg body weight) enhanced phagocytosis4.
Intraperitoneal administration of an unsaponifiable fraction (0.5 ml) of a
hydroalcoholic extract of the flowers weakly stimulated phagocytosis in mice
inoculated with Escherichia coli. However, the hydroalcoholic extract
was not active5. Antimicrobial activity The essential oil of the flowers inhibited the
growth in vitro of Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus
aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albican6.
A flavonoid fraction isolated from the flowers inhibited the growth in vitro
of S. aureus, Sarcina lutea, E. coli, Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Candida monosa7. However, chloroform,
ethanol, methanol or water extracts of the flowers did not inhibit bacterial
growth in vitro8-10. Acetone, ethanol or water extracts inhibited
the growth in vitro of the fungus Neurospora crassa11.
Extracts of the flowers inhibited the growth in vitro of Trichomonas
vaginalis12. Oxygenated terpenes appear to be responsible for the
antimicrobial activity13. Antiviral activity A tincture of the flowers suppressed the
replication of herpes simplex, influenza A2 and influenza Anti-inflammaory activity Topical application of a 70% ethanol extract of the
flowers to mice at a dose of 1.2 mg/ear (corresponding to 4.16 mg crude drug)
reduced croton oil-induced ear oedema by 20%17. External
application of a carbon dioxide extract of the flowers (300 mg/cm2)
suppressed croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice18. The triterpene
fraction of an extract of the flowers had marked anti-inflammatory activity
in mice (1 mg/ear) against ear oedema induced by 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol-
13-acetate19. Faradiol esters isolated from the flowers (240 mg/cm2)
inhibited croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice20. Intragastric
administration of an aqueous extract of the flowers (100 mg/kg body weight) inhibited
carrageenan-induced footpad oedema in rats21. However, an 80%
ethanol extract of the flowers was weakly active (11% inhibition) at a
concentration of 100 mg/kg body weight administered orally 1 hour prior to
induction of oedema22. Isorhamnetin glycosides isolated from the
flowersinhibited rat lung lipoxygenase in vitro23. Wound-healing activity External application of a hydroalcoholic extract
accelerated the rate of contraction and epithelialization of excision wounds
in rats24. A 3% freeze-dried aqueous extract of the flowers
induced vascularization in the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay.
Histological sections of the treated chorioallantoic membranes also indicated
the presence of hyaluronan, a tissue glycosaminoglycan associated with
neovascularization25. Clinical
pharmacology Although no randomized, controlled clinical trials
have been performed, two case reports in the early medical literature support
the traditional use of Flos Calendulae. The reports describe the use of a
strong tincture of the flowers applied on compresses to reduce inflammation
and suppuration, and to accelerate the healing of wounds 26, 27. References 1.
Varljen J, Lipták A, Wagner H. Structural analysis of a rhamnoarabinogalactan
and arabinogalactans with immunostimulating activity from Calendula
officinalis. Phytochemistry, 1989, 28:2379–2383. 2. ESCOP
monographs on the medicinal uses of plant drugs. Fascicule 1. Elburg,
European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy, 1996. 3.
Blumenthal M et al., eds. The complete German Commission E monographs.
Austin, TX, American Botanical
Council, 1998. 4. Wagner H et al. Immunstimulierend
wirkende Polysaccharide (Heteroglykane) aus höheren Pflanzen. Arzneimittel-Forschung,
1985, 7:1069–1075. 5. Delaveau P et al. Drogues végétales
stimulant l’activité phagocytaire du système réticulo-endothélial. Planta
Medica, 1980, 40:49–54. 6.
Janssen AM et al. Screening for antimicrobial activity of some essential oils
by the agar overlay technique. Pharmaceutisch Weekblad, 1986,
8:289–292. 7.
Tarle D, Dvorzak I. Antimicrobial substances in Flos Calendulae. Farmacevtski
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Rios JL, Recio MC, Villar A. Antimicrobial activity of selected plants
employed in the Spanish Mediterranean area. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,
1987, 21:139– 152. 9.
Dornberger K, Lich H. Screening for antimicrobial and presumed cancerostatic
plant metabolites. Pharmazie, 1982, 37:215–221. 10. Acevedo JG, Lopez JL, Cortes GM. In vitro antimicrobial activity of various plant extracts used by purepecha against some Enterobacteriaceae. International Journal of Pharmacognosy, 1993, 31:61–64. 11.
Kubas J. Investigations on known or potential antitumoral plants by means of
microbiological tests. Part 12.
Racz G et al. Trichomonicidal and anthelmintic activity of Roumanian
folkloric plants. Planta Medica, 1980, 39:257A. 13.
Gracza L. Oxygen-containing terpene derivatives from Calendula officinalis.
Planta Medica, 1987, 53:227. 14.
Bogdanova NS et al. Study of antiviral properties of Calendula officinalis.
Farmakol Toksikol ( 15.
May G, Willuhn G. Antiviral activity of aqueous extracts from medicinal
plants in tissue cultures. Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1978, 28:1–7. 16.
Kalvatchev Z et al. Anti-HIV activity of extracts from Calendula
officinalis flowers. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 1997,
51:176–180. 17.
Fokina GI et al. Experimental therapy of tick-borne encephalitis. Soviet
Progress in Virology, 1991, 1:27–31. 18.
Della-Loggia R et al. The role of triterpenoids in the topical
anti-inflammatory activity of Calendula officinalis flowers.
Planta Medica, 1994, 60:516–520. 19. Akihisa T et al. Triterpene
alcohols from the flowers of Compositae and their anti-inflammatory effects. Phytochemistry,
1996, 43:1255–1260. 20.
Zitterl-Eglseer K et al. Anti-oedematous activities of the main triterpendiol
esters of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). Journal of
Ethnopharmacology, 1997, 57:139–144. 21.
Peyroux J et al. Anti-oedemic and anti-hyperhaemic properties of Calendula
officinalis L. Plantes médicinales et Phytotherapie, 1981,
15:210–216. 22. Mascolo N et al. Biological screening of Italian medicinal plants for anti-inflammatory activity. Phytotherapy Research, 1987, 1:20–31. 23.
Bezakova L et al. Inhibitory activity of isorhamnetin glycosides from Calendula
officinalis L. on the activity of lipoxygenase. Pharmazie, 1996,
51:126–127. 24.
Rao SG et al. Calendula and Hypericum: two homeopathic drugs
promoting wound healing in rats. Fitoterapia, 1991, 62:508. 25.
Patrick KFM et al. Induction of vascularisation by an aqueous extract of the
flowers of Calendula officinalis L., the European marigold. Phytomedicine,
1996, 3:11–18. 26.
Livezey A. Some observations on our indigenous medical flora. Medical and
Surgical Reporter, 1868, 19:85. 27.
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