Calendula officinalis. Caltha officinalis   Calendula, Marigold, Pot Marigold, Gold-bloom    Family: Asteraceae     
PART USED: Flower heads- Bright yellow or orange- Collected when fully open and dried.
TASTE: Saline, slightly bitter   ODOR: Faint and aromatic.
ACTIONS
GROUP: Herbs for trauma and recovery- Vulnerarys
1. Vulnerary.[1,2,3]
2. Antispasmodic.[1,2,3]
3. Anti-inflammatory.[1,2,3]
4. Cicitrant (Healing scars).
5. Circulatory tonic.
6. Emmenagogue.[1]
7. Hemostatic.[1,2,3] Styptic.[1,3]
8. Lymph gland cleanser
9. Mild Diaphoretic.[1]
10. Antiseptic.[1,3]
INDICATIONS- Deep cuts and wounds are not indicated, as heals the surface too fast and body may not be able to eliminate toxins.
1. External use - Lotion or cream-  "Best herb for clean cuts and wounds". Cuts and bruises, nappy rash, sore nipples, burns, scalds.[3] Crural ulcer.[1] Varicose Veins.[1] Hemorrhoids.[1] Anal Eczema.[1] Proctitis.[1] Lymphadenoma.[1] Inflamed cutaneous lesions.[1] Cunjunctivitis, as eye lotion.[1]  Inflammatory skin lesions including ulcers and burns.[1]
2. Gastric and duodenal ulcer.[1,2,3] Stomach disorders.[3]
3. Amenorrhea.[1] Dysmenorrhea.[1,2,3]
4. Heart disorders.
5. Varicose veins hemorrhoids.
6. Viral liver disorders.
7. Epistaxis.[1]
8. All mucous membrane irritations including conjunctivitis.[2]
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Enlarged or inflamed lymphatic nodes. Sebaceous cysts. Duodenal ulcer. Inflammatory skin lesions, acute or chronic.[1]
COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS 3X/day
Dried flowers: 1-4 g, or by infusion[1] 1:20.
Fluid extract  1:1 in 40% alcohol 0.5-1 ml.[1] 1-4 ml.[3] 1:1 in 60% alcohol.[4]
Tincture BPC1934  1:5 in 90% alcohol 0.3-1.2 ml.[1,3]
Infused oil preparations.
Local Compress, douche, eye lotion, ointment.[1,2]

DESCRIPTION: Flowerheads bright yellow or orange. Ligulate florets, usually detached from the ovary, 15-25 mm long and 3 mm broad, one to three toothes with four or five veins and an entire margin, with a short corolla tube containg the bifid stigma and style. +
References
Constituents
Research
An alcoholic exract has been shown to have invitro antitrichomonal activity.[1]
References
[1] Samochowiec, E. et al. (1979) Wiad. Parazytol. 25 (1), 77

Anti-inflammatory activity of flower extract of Calendula officinalis Linn. and its possible mechanism of action.
Preethi KC, Kuttan G, Kuttan R.
Abstract
Calendula officinalis flower extract possessed significant anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan and dextran-induced acute paw edema. Oral administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight Calendula extract produced significant inhibition (50.6 and 65.9% respectively) in paw edema of animals induced by carrageenan and 41.9 and 42.4% respectively with inflammation produced by dextran. In chronic anti-inflammatory model using formalin, administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight Calendula extract produced an inhibition of 32.9 and 62.3% respectively compared to controls. TNF-alpha production by macrophage culture treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was found to be significantly inhibited by Calendula extract. Moreover, increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL- 1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma and acute phase protein, C- reactive protein (CRP) in mice produced by LPS injection were inhibited significantly by the extract. LPS induced cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) levels in mice spleen were also found to be inhibited by extract treatment. The results showed that potent anti-inflammatory response of C. officinalis extract may be mediated by the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines and Cox-2 and subsequent prostaglandin synthesis.
PMID: 19374166 Indian J Exp Biol. 2009 Feb;47(2):113-20. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Wound healing activity of flower extract of Calendula officinalis.
Preethi KC, Kuttan R.
Abstract
The effects of oral and topical application of Calendula officinalis flower extract on excision wounds made in rats were checked. The parameters assessed were the days needed for re-epithelization and percentage of wound closure. The hydroxy proline and hexosamine content in the granuloma tissue of the wound was also measured. The percentage of wound closure was 90.0% in the extract-treated group, whereas the control group showed only 51.1% on the eighth day of wounding (p < .01). The days needed for re-epithelization were 17.7 for the control animals; extract treatment at a dose of 20 or 100 mg/kg b.wt reduced the period to 14 and 13 days, respectively. A significant increase was observed in the hydroxy proline and hexosamine content in the extract-treated group compared with the untreated animals. The data indicate potent wound healing activity ofC. officinalis extract.
PMID: 19601397  J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2009;20(1):73-9. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Animal Models of Calendula officinalis L. Growing in Brazil
Leila Maria Leal Parente, Ruy de Souza Lino Júnior, Leonice Manrique Faustino Tresvenzol, Marina Clare Vinaud, José Realino de Paula, and Neusa Margarida Paulo
Abstract
Calendula officinalis is an annual herb from Mediterranean origin which is popularly used in wound healing and as an anti-inflammatory agent. In this study, the ethanolic extract, the dichloromethane, and hexanic fractions of the flowers from plants growing in Brazil were produced. The angiogenic activity of the extract and fractions was evaluated through the chorioallantoic membrane and cutaneous wounds in rat models. The healing activity of the extract was evaluated by the same cutaneous wounds model through macroscopic, morphometric, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical analysis. The antibacterial activity of the extract and fractions was also evaluated. This experimental study revealed that C. officinalis presented anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities as well as angiogenic and fibroplastic properties acting in a positive way on the inflammatory and proliferative phases of the healing process. Published online 2012 Jan 24. doi: 10.1155/2012/375671
PMCID: PMC3270572 Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012; 2012: 375671. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Toxicological studies on hydroalcohol extract of Calendula officinalis L.
Silva EJ, Gonçalves ES, Aguiar F, Evêncio LB, Lyra MM, Coelho MC, Fraga Mdo C, Wanderley AG.
Abstract
The hydroalcohol extract (HAE) of Calendula officinalis L. was evaluated for its acute toxicity by the oral route in rats and mice and for the subacute effect on hematological, biochemical and morphologic parameters in rats. In the acute toxicity test, HAE failed to cause death in the animals after administration of oral doses up to 5.0 g/kg. Oral treatment with HAE at 0.025, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg did not induce hematological alterations when compared with the control group. In the biochemical parameters, there was an increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and in alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. Morphological examination of the brain, kidney and heart did not show any alteration. However, inflammatory sites were found in the lung and liver, which were associated, respectively, with oral gavage and a possible hepatotoxic effect. HAE was non-toxic in rats, although there was evidence of renal and liver overload.
PMID: 17221830 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2009  Phytother Res. 2007 Apr;21(4):332-6. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Phase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer.
Pommier P, Gomez F, Sunyach MP, D'Hombres A, Carrie C, Montbarbon X.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
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.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
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.
RESULTS:
The occurrence of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher was significantly lower (41% v 63%; P <.001) 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.
CONCLUSION:
Calendula 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.
PMID: 15084618 DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2004.07.063   J Clin Oncol. 2004 Apr 15;22(8):1447-53. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hepato and reno protective action of Calendula officinalis L. flower extract.
Preethi KC, Kuttan R.
Abstract
Flower extract of C. officinalis L. was evaluated for its protective effect against CCl4 induced acute hepatotoxicity and cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity. The activities of serum marker enzymes of liver injury like glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) which were increased by CCl4 injection was found to be significantly reduced by the pretreatment of the flower extract at 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight. The lipid peroxidation in liver, the marker of membrane damage and the total bilirubin content in serum were also found to be at significantly low level in the extract pretreated group, indicating its protective role. The kidney function markers like urea and creatinine were significantly increased in cisplatin treated animals. However, their levels were found to be lowered in the extract pretreated groups (100 and 250 mg/kg body weight). Moreover, cisplatin induced myelosuppression was ameliorated by the extract pretreatment. Treatment with the extract produced enhancement of antioxidant enzymes--superoxide dismutase and catalase and glutathione. Results suggest a protective role of the flower extract of C. officinalis against CCl4 induced acute hepatotoxicity and cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity. Extract has been found to contain several carotenoids of which lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene predominates. Possible mechanism of action of the flower extract may be due to its antioxidant activity and reduction of oxygen radicals.
PMID: 19405380 Indian J Exp Biol. 2009 Mar;47(3):163-8. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov