t-taraxasterol and lupeol); triterpenoidal
monoesters;^3 flavonoids (narcissin, rutin, and
others); trace amounts of essential oil; chloro-
genic acid (GLASBY 2 ;WREN); polysaccharides
including a rhamnoarabinogalactan and arabi-
nogalactans;^4 flower yellow pigment is a mix-
ture ofb-carotene, lycopene, violaxanthin, and
other xanthophylls (CSIR II). Carotenoids in the
flower petals are mainly flavoxanthin, luteox-
anthin, and auroxanthin and while those in the
leaves and stems are mainlyb-carotene and
lutein. However, the major carotenoid in the
driedflowersusedtomakeherbalteasislutein.^5
PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES
Flower, flower/herb preparations, and ex-
tracts have shown anti-inflammatory, immu-
nomodulating, and wound-healing activities;
stimulation of granulation at wound site; also
increasing glycoprotein, nucleoprotein, and
collagen metabolism at site; antibacterial;
antifungal, antiviral; antiparasitic (trichomo-
nacidal); stimulation of phagocytosisin vitro
and in the carbon clearance test in mice;
choleretic activity; isolated polysaccharides
have shown in vitro and in vivo tumor-
inhibiting activity (ESCOP3) and immunosti-
mulating activity in the carbon clearance and
granulocytes tests.^6 An ethanol extract of the
flowers enhanced thein vitroproliferation of
lymphocytes.^7
Wound-healing effects of the flowers have
been demonstrated in various animal tests.^8
Fromin vitroand animal tests, topical anti-
inflammatory activity of the flowers is at-
tributed toY-taraxasterol,10–12isorhamnetic
glycosides,^13 and triterpenoidal fatty acid
esters;^9 notably, faradiol monoester,^9 which
showed the same topical antiedematous ac-
tivity in the Croton oil-induced edema model
as indomethacin and at the same dose.9,11
A butanolic extract of the flowers showed
potentin vitroantioxidant and radical scav-
enging activity.^14
In a phase III clinical trial, a cream cont-
aining an extract of calendula was found to
provide good protection against acute derma-
titis in women undergoing radiation therapy
for postoperative breast cancer.^15TOXICOLOGYNo dermal irritation was produced by a 10%
aqueous extract of the flowers in rabbits.
Ocular irritation from a 10% aqueous extract
in the eyes of rabbits was minimal. No geno-
toxic effects were found a ‘‘herbal’’ tea of the
flowers and none was found from six sapo-
nins isolated from the flowers.^16 Afluid
extract of the flowers was non-mutagenic in
the mouse bone micronucleus and in the
Ames test (Salmonella/microsome assays).
However, in vitrogenotoxic effects were
found inAspergillus nidulans.^17 In rat liver
cell cultures, unscheduled DNA synthesis
was inhibited by nanogram concentrations
of various solvent extracts of the flowers;
genotoxic effects were only found from high
(g/mL) concentrations.^18 No sensitizing ef-
fects were found in humans from occlusive
patches supplying cosmetics containing 1%
calendula extract; however, safety data to
support the use of the flowers in cosmetic
preparations are considered insufficient. The
acute oral LD 50 of calendula flower extract in
rats:>4640 mg/kg.^16USESMedicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Preparations of calendula flowers are used
externally to treat dermal and mucous mem-
brane inflammations, hard-to-heal wounds,
leg ulcers, dermatitis, mild burns, and sun-
burn; internally for inflammatory lesions of
the oral and pharyngeal mucosa; also used as
an immunostimulant in treating skin inflam-
mations and herpes zoster infections (ESCOP3;
WICHTL).^19
Used in diverse body care products, inc-
luding face, body, and hand creams, lotions,
night creams, ointments, shampoos, lipsticks,
deodorants, shaving creams, suntan products,130 Calendula