Calendula
Calendula | |
---|---|
![]() | |
field marigold (Calendula arvensis) | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Subfamily: | Asteroideae |
Supertribe: | Asterodae |
Tribe: | Calenduleae |
Genus: | Calendula L. |
Species | |
See text |
Calendula (/kəˈlɛndjuːlə/)[1] is a genus of about 15–20 species[2] of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae that are often known as marigolds.[3]:771 They are native to southwestern Asia, western Europe, Macaronesia, and the Mediterranean. Other plants are also known as marigolds, such as corn marigold, desert marigold, marsh marigold, and plants of the genus Tagetes.
The genus name Calendula is a modern Latin diminutive of calendae, meaning "little calendar", "little clock" or possibly "little weather-glass".[4] The common name "marigold"[4] refers to the Virgin Mary. The most commonly cultivated and used member of the genus is Calendula officinalis, the pot marigold. Popular herbal and cosmetic products named "Calendula" invariably derive from C. officinalis.
Calendula[clarification needed] is one of the two birth flowers for the month of October, the other being Cosmos.[5]
Uses[]
History[]
Calendula was not a major medicinal herb but it was used in historic times for headaches, red eye, fever and toothaches. As late as the 17th century Nicholas Culpeper claimed Calendula benefited the heart, but it was not considered an especially efficacious medicine.[6]
In historic times Calendula was more often used for magical purposes than medicinal ones. One 16th-century potion containing Calendula claimed to reveal fairies. An unmarried woman with two suitors would take a blend of powdered Calendula, marjoram, wormwood and thyme simmered in honey and white wine used as an ointment in a ritual to reveal her true match.[6]
Romans and Greeks used the golden Calendula in many rituals and ceremonies, sometimes wearing crowns or garlands made from the flowers. One of its nicknames is "Mary's Gold," referring to the flowers' use in early Catholic events in some countries. Calendula flowers are sacred flowers in India and have been used to decorate the statues of Hindu deities since early times.[7]
However, the most common use in historic times was culinary, and the plant was used for both its color and its flavor. They were used for dumplings, wine, oatmeal and puddings. In English cuisine Calendula were often cooked in the same pot with spinach, or used to flavor stewed birds. According to sixteenth-century Englishman John Gerard, every proper soup of Dutch cuisine in his era would include Calendula petals.[6]
Culinary[]
The petals are edible and can be used fresh in salads or dried and used to color cheese or as a substitute for saffron.[8] It can be used to add color to soups, stews, poultry dishes, custards and liquors.[6]
The common name for Calendula officinalis in Britain is 'pot-marigold,' named so because of its use in broths and soups.[9]
Dyes[]
Dye can be extracted from the flower and produce shades of honey, gold oranges, light browns, and vibrant yellows.[10]
Chemistry[]
The flowers of C. officinalis contain flavonol glycosides, triterpene , oleanane-type triterpene glycosides, saponins, and a sesquiterpene glucoside.[11][12]
Pharmacological effects[]
Calendula officinalis oil is still used medicinally as an anti-inflammatory and a remedy for healing wounds.[13] Calendula ointments are skin products available for use on minor cuts, burns, and skin irritation;[14] however, evidence of their effectiveness is weak.[14][15]
Plant pharmacological studies have suggested that Calendula extracts have antiviral, antigenotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro.[16] In herbalism, Calendula in suspension or in tincture is used topically for treating acne, reducing inflammation, controlling bleeding, and soothing irritated tissue.[17][18] Limited evidence indicates Calendula cream or ointment is effective in treating radiation dermatitis.[19][20] Topical application of C. officinalis ointment has helped to prevent dermatitis and pain; thus reducing the incidence rate of skipped radiation treatments in randomized trials.[18]
Calendula has been used traditionally for abdominal cramps and constipation.[21] In experiments with rabbit jejunum, the aqueous-ethanol extract of C. officinalis flowers was shown to have both spasmolytic and spasmogenic effects, thus providing a scientific rationale for this traditional use.[21] An aqueous extract of C. officinalis obtained by a novel extraction method has demonstrated antitumor (cytotoxic) activity and immunomodulatory properties (lymphocyte activation) in vitro, as well as antitumor activity in mice.[16]
Calendula plants are known to cause allergic reactions,[22][23] and should be avoided during pregnancy.[22]
Diversity[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Calendula_officinalis_01.jpg/300px-Calendula_officinalis_01.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Calendula-arvensis-by-Zachi-Evenor-IZE11717.jpg/300px-Calendula-arvensis-by-Zachi-Evenor-IZE11717.jpg)
Species include:[24]
- Calendula arvensis (Vaill.) L. – field marigold, wild marigold
- Schousb. ex Willd.
- Ohle
- Willd.
- Calendula incana subsp. algarbiensis (Boiss.) Ohle
- Calendula incana subsp. maderensis (DC.) Ohle – Madeiran marigold
- Calendula incana subsp. maritima (Guss.) Ohle – sea marigold
- Calendula incana subsp. microphylla (Lange) Ohle
- Maire
- Calendula maritima Guss. - sea marigold
- (Ball) Ball
- Calendula maroccana subsp. maroccana
- Calendula maroccana subsp. murbeckii (Lanza) Ohle
- Ohle
- Calendula officinalis L. – pot marigold, garden marigold, ruddles, Scottish marigold
- Boiss.
- Cav.
- Vahl
- Calendula suffruticosa subsp. balansae (Boiss. & Reut.) Ohle
- Calendula suffruticosa subsp. boissieri Lanza
- Calendula suffruticosa subsp. fulgida (Raf.) Guadagno
- Calendula suffruticosa subsp. lusitanica (Boiss.) Ohle
- Calendula suffruticosa subsp. maritima (Guss.) Meikle
- Calendula suffruticosa subsp. monardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Ohle
- Calendula suffruticosa subsp. tomentosa Murb.
- Rupr.
Gallery[]
ssp. fulgida
C. officinalis from Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, by Thomé, 1885
C. officinalis
The endangered Calendula maritima
C. arvensis seeds
Calendula arvensis in full bloom
References[]
- ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
- ^ Calendula. Flora of China.
- ^ Stace, C. A. (2010). New Flora of the British Isles (Third ed.). Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521707725.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (6th ed.). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. 2007. p. 3804. ISBN 978-0199206872.
- ^ Almanac, Old Farmer's. "Birth Month Flowers". Old Farmer's Almanac. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
- ^ Doctor, Vikram (20 October 2017). "Marigold: The Mexican flower that has become a part of Indian festivals". Economic Times Blog. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Spotlight on Marigold. The Complete Herbal - Herbs and Herbal Remedies.
- ^ MACHT, DAVID I. (1955). "CALENDULA OR MARIGOLD IN MEDICAL HISTORY AND IN SHAKESPEARE". Bulletin of the History of Medicine. 29 (6): 491–502. ISSN 0007-5140.
- ^ McLaughlin, Chris. "Homemade Calendula Dye". Mother Earth News. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- ^ Ukiya, M., et al. (2006). Anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor-promoting, and cytotoxic activities of constituents of pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) flowers. J Nat Prod. 69 1692-96.
- ^ Yoshikawa, M., et al. (2001). Medicinal flowers. III. Marigold.(1): hypoglycemic, gastric emptying inhibitory, and gastroprotective principles and new oleanane-type triterpene oligolycosides, calendasaponins A, B, C, and D, from Egyptian Calendula officinalis. Chem Pharm Bull. 49 863-70.
- ^ Okoh, O. O., et al. (2008). The effects of drying on the chemical components of essential oils of Calendula officinalis L. African Journal of Biotechnology 7(10) 1500-02.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Calendula ointment entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
- ^ Matthew J. Leach (2008). "Calendula officinalis and Wound Healing: A Systematic Review". Wounds. 20 (8).
- ^ Jump up to: a b Jimenez-Medina, E., et al. (2006). A new extract of the plant Calendula officinalis produces a dual in vitro effect: cytotoxic anti-tumor activity and lymphocyte activation. BMC Cancer. 6:6.
- ^ Duran, V; Matic, M; Jovanovć, M; Mimica, N; Gajinov, Z; Poljacki, M; Boza, P (2005). "Results of the clinical examination of an ointment with marigold (Calendula officinalis) extract in the treatment of venous leg ulcers". Int J Tissue React. 27 (3): 101–6. PMID 16372475.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Pommier, P., et al. (2004). Phase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 22(8) 1447-53.
- ^ McQuestion, M. (2006). Evidence-based skin care management in radiation therapy. Semin Oncol Nurs. 22 163-73.
- ^ Bolderston, A., et al. (2006). The prevention and management of acute skin reactions related to radiation therapy: a systematic review and practice guideline. Support Care Cancer. 14 802-17
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bashir S, Janbaz KH, Jabeen Q et al. (2006). Studies on spasmogenic and spasmolytic activities of Calendula officinalis flowers. Phytother Res. 20:906-910.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products: Calendula". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
- ^ Reider, N; Komericki, P; Hausen, BM; Fritsch, P; Aberer, W (2001). "The seamy side of natural medicines: Contact sensitization to arnica (Arnica montana L.) and marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)". Contact Dermatitis. 45 (5): 269–72. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0536.2001.450503.x. PMID 11722485. S2CID 38613828.
- ^ Flann, C (ed.). "Species of Calendula". Global Compositae Checklist. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
External links[]
- Calenduleae
- Asteraceae genera
- Garden plants
- Medicinal plants