Marigold (Calendula officinalis) is a common herb or plant in the West. Limited research indicates marigold to be useful when used topically for dermatitis. Marigold has compounds in it that have antiinflammatory activity, and one study even found that marigold extracts may have anti HIV activity.
Composition
A typical marigold flower carotenoid profile is 80 percent
lutein and 5
percent zeaxanthin.
Marigold contains many substances, including carotenoids.
Clinical uses
At this time it is difficult to know which clinical conditions or
diseases marigold could be helpful for. Perhaps due to it's high carotenoid
content, marigold could be helpful in eye conditions.
Lutein in marigold plant
Antioxidant activity, mutagenicity/anti-mutagenicity, and clastogenicity/anti-clastogenicity
of lutein from marigold flowers.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2006. Department of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biochemistry, College of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University,
Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
High dietary intake of lutein has been associated with risk reduction of
many chronic diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, cancer, and
cardiovascular diseases. Lutein in food is generally regarded as safe. However,
information on the toxicological and beneficial effect of lutein at higher doses
is limited. In this study, large amount of lutein was extracted and purified
from marigold flower (Tagetes erecta L.). Lutein showed a greater antioxidant
activity than the other two common carotenoids, beta-carotene and lycopene.
Lutein was not only found to be non-mutagenic at all doses, but it showed an
anti-mutagenic effect in a dose-dependent manner. Similar results were found in
a chromosome aberration test using Chinese hamster ovary cells for the
evaluation of clastogenicity and anti-clastogenicity of lutein. Our findings
provided scientific evidence for the safe use and health beneficial effects of
lutein.
Marigold Plant Research Update
Phase III randomized
trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention
of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer.
J Clin Oncol. 2004.
The effectiveness of nonsteroid topical agents for the
prevention of acute dermatitis during adjuvant radiotherapy for breast
carcinoma has not been demonstrated. The goal of this study was to compare
the effectiveness of calendula (Pommade au Calendula par Digestion; Boiron
Ltd, Levallois-Perret, France) with that of trolamine (Biafine; Genmedix
Ltd, France), which is considered in many institutions to be the reference
topical agent. Between July 1999 and June 2001, 254
patients who had been operated on for breast cancer and who were to
receive postoperative radiation therapy were randomly allocated to
application of either trolamine (128 patients) or calendula (126 patients)
on the irradiated fields after each session. The primary end point was the
occurrence of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher. Prognostic factors,
including treatment modalities and patient characteristics, were also
investigated. Secondary end points were the occurrence of pain, the
quantity of topical agent used, and patient satisfaction. The
occurrence of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher was significantly
lower (41% v 63%) with the use of calendula than with trolamine.
Moreover, patients receiving calendula had less frequent interruption of
radiotherapy and significantly reduced radiation-induced pain. Calendula
was considered to be more difficult to apply, but self-assessed
satisfaction was greater. Body mass index and adjuvant chemotherapy before
radiotherapy after lumpectomy were significant prognostic factors for
acute dermatitis. Marigold is highly effective for the
prevention of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher and should be proposed
for patients undergoing postoperative irradiation for breast cancer.
Preparative purification of the
major anti-inflammatory triterpenoid esters from Marigold flower
Fitoterapia. 2003.
A method for the efficient preparative purification of faradiol
3-O-laurate, palmitate and myristate, the major anti-inflammatory
triterpenoid esters in the flower heads of the medicinal plant Calendula
officinalis has been developed. Gram quantities of the individual
compounds were obtained with 96 to 98% purity by a combination of
supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), normal-phase and reversed-phase
column chromatography. During the work-up of the faradiol esters,
accompanying minor compounds of the triterpene ester fraction were
purified and identified by spectroscopic means as maniladiol 3-O-laurate
and myristate.
HPLC study on the carotenoid
composition of Calendula products.
J Biochem Biophys Methods. 20020.
The authors report on the HPLC investigation of the carotenoid
composition of the steams, leaves, petals and pollens of Calendula
officinalis In the petals and pollens, the main carotenoids were
flavoxanthin and auroxanthin while the stem and leaves mostly contained
lutein and beta-carotene.Five different herbal tea and two tinctures made
from the flower of C. officinalis L. were also investigated and the
carotenoid composition of the industrial products was compared to the
starting material.
Protective properties of butanolic extract of the
Calendula officinalis against lipid peroxidation of rat
liver microsomes and action as free radical scavenger.
Redox Rep. 2002.
Calendula officinalis (marigold) has many pharmacological properties.
It is used for the treatment of skin disorders, pain and also as a
bactericide, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are known to participate in the
pathogenesis of various human diseases and may be involved in the
conditions which C. officinalis is used to treat. The aim of this study
was to investigate the relationship between the beneficial properties of
this plant and its antioxidant action. The butanolic fraction (BF) was
studied because it is non-cytotoxic and is rich in a variety of bioactive
metabolites including flavonoids and terpenoids. The results obtained
suggest that the butanolic fraction of C. officinalis possesses a
significant free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity and that the
proposed therapeutic efficacy of this plant could be due, in part, to
these properties.
Final report on the safety assessment of Calendula
officinalis extract and Calendula officinalis.
Int J Toxicol. 2001.
Calendula Officinalis Extract is an extract of the flowers of Calendula
officinalis, the common marigold, whereas Calendula Officinalis is
described as plant material derived from the flowers.
Techniques for preparing Calendula Officinalis Extract include gentle
disintegration in soybean oil. Propylene glycol and butylene glycol
extractions were also reported. Components of these
ingredients are
variously reported to include sugars, carotenoids, phenolic acids,
sterols, saponins, flavonoids, resins, sterins, quinones, mucilages,
vitamins, polyprenylquinones, and essential oils. Calendula Officinalis
Extract is reported to be used in almost 200
cosmetic formulations, over a
wide range of product categories. There are no reported uses of Calendula Officinalis. Acute toxicity studies in rats and mice indicate that the
extract is relatively nontoxic. Animal tests showed at most minimal skin
irritation, and no sensitization or phototoxicity. Minimal ocular
irritation was seen with one formulation and no irritation with others.
Six saponins isolated from C. officinalis flowers were not mutagenic in an
Ames test, and a tea derived from C. officinalis was not genotoxic in
Drosophila melanogaster. No carcinogenicity or reproductive and
developmental toxicity data were available. Clinical testing of cosmetic
formulations containing the extract elicited little irritation or
sensitization. Absent any basis for concluding that data on one member of
a botanical ingredient group can be extrapolated to another in a group, or
to the same ingredient extracted differently, these data were not
considered sufficient to assess the safety of these ingredients.
Additional data needs include current concentration of use data; function
in cosmetics; ultraviolet (UV) absorption data; if absorption occurs in
the UVA or UVB range, photosensitization data are needed; gross pathology
and histopathology in skin and other major organ systems associated with
repeated dermal exposures; dermal reproductive/developmental toxicity
data; inhalation toxicity data, especially addressing the concentration,
amount delivered, and particle size; and genotoxicity testing in a
mammalian system; if positive, a 2-year dermal carcinogenicity assay
performed using National Toxicology Program (NTP) methods is needed. Until
these data are available, it is concluded that the available data are
insufficient to support the safety of these ingredients in cosmetic
formulations.
Anti-HIV activity of extracts from Calendula
officinalis flowers.
Biomed Pharmacother. 19970.
Extracts of dried flowers were examined
for their ability to inhibit the human immunodeficiency virus type 1
(HIV-1) replication. Both organic and aqueous extracts were relatively
nontoxic to human lymphocytic Molt-4 cells, but only the organic one
exhibited potent anti-HIV activity in an in vitro MTT/tetrazolium-based
assay. In addition, in the presence of the organic extract (500
micrograms/mL), the uninfected Molt-4 cells were completely protected for
up to 24 h from fusion and subsequent death, caused by cocultivation with
persistently infected U-937/HIV-1 cells. It was also found that the
organic extract from Calendula officinalis flowers caused a significant
dose- and time-dependent reduction of HIV-1 reverse transcription (RT)
activity. An 85% RT inhibition was achieved after a 30 min treatment of
partially purified enzyme in a cell-free system. These results suggested
that organic extract of flowers from Calendula officinalis possesses
anti-HIV properties of therapeutic interest.
Supplier
Cactus Botanics introduces Zeaxanthin Extracted From Marigold Flower -
2006-11-06 - Cactus Botanics Limited has announced that it has completed
its technical research into Zeaxanthin, which is naturally extracted from
the Marigold Flower. Beginning in November, Cactus Botanics has started to
produce this raw material in bulk at the company's Chinese facility. The
specification range is from 10% to 50%, as tested by HPLC. Now, Cactus
Botanics is ready to provide its Zeaxanthin Powder to the Nutritional
Market.
Marigold herbal
extract questions
Q. Can marigold be taken the same day as
saw palmetto or
curcumin?
A. I don't see why not.
Chrysantis corporation
Chrysantis, Inc. announces that it has been granted a United States
patent for Tagetes erecta (Marigold) With Altered Carotenoid Compositions and
Ratios. This patent is a continuation of Chrysantis’ US patents which cover not
only zeaxanthin produced by marigolds, but also beta carotene, phytoene,
phytofluene, cryptoxanthins and other carotenoids synthesized in the petals and
leaves of Chrysantis marigolds. Chrysantis now has a marigold collection that
offers a unique, sustainable and efficient means of producing carotenoids for
human nutrition. “We are truly excited about the approval of this last patent
for our marigolds,” says Manuel Pavon, General Manager for Chrysantis. “We have
worked hard through natural selection and breeding to bring healthy, natural
carotenoids to the nutritional market place that enhance human health safely and
effectively." EZEyes zeaxanthin, made from marigolds, is the same form of
zeaxanthin found naturally in fruits and vegetables. In August 2009, Chrysantis
announced the formation of the Zeaxanthin Trade Association. Its primary goal is
to increase global awareness and promote the use of dietary zeaxanthin, in combination with lutein, critical nutrients for eye health
that can help guard against vision problems such as Age-Related Macular
Degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.