''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species''Calendula''.
Flora of China. of

annual Annual may refer to: * Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year **Yearbook **Literary annual * Annual plant *Annual report *Annual giving *Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco *Annuals (band), ...

and

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition ...

plant Plants are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic eukaryotes of the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all curr ...

s in the daisy

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae ...

that are often known as marigolds. They are

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and enterta ...

to southwestern Asia, western Europe,

Macaronesia Macaronesia (Portuguese: ''Macaronésia,'' Spanish: ''Macaronesia'') is a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the North Atlantic, off the coasts of Africa and Europe. Each archipelago is made up of a number of Atlantic oceanic islands ...

, and the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on th ...

. (Other plants also known as marigolds, are

corn marigold ''Glebionis segetum'' (syn. ''Chrysanthemum segetum'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, probably native only to the eastern Mediterranean region but now naturalized in western and northern Europe as well as China and par ...

desert marigold ''Baileya'' (the desert marigolds) is a genus of plants in the aster family Asteraceae. All are native to the southwestern United States and to Mexico. They are typically annual, though ''B. multiradiata'' may be perennial. The leaves, which m ...

marsh marigold ''Caltha palustris'', known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It flow ...

, and plants of the genus ''

Tagetes ''Tagetes'' () is a genusSoule, J. A. 1996. Infrageneric Systematics of Tagetes. Pgs. 435-443 in Compositae: Systematics, Proceedings of the International Compositae Conference, Kew 1994, Vol. I, Eds. D.J.N. Hind & H.J. Beentje. of annual or ...

''). The genus name ''Calendula'' is a modern Latin diminutive of ''calendae'', meaning "little calendar", "little clock" or possibly "little weather-glass". The common name "marigold" refers to the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

. The most commonly cultivated and used member of the genus is ''

Calendula officinalis ''Calendula officinalis'', the pot marigold, common marigold, ruddles, Mary's gold or Scotch marigold, is a flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. It is probably native to southern Europe, though its long history of cultivation makes it ...

'', the pot marigold. Popular herbal and cosmetic products named "Calendula" invariably derive from ''C.officinalis''.

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 Nicholas Culpeper (18 October 1616 – 10 January 1654) was an English botanist, herbalist, physician and astrologer.Patrick Curry: "Culpeper, Nicholas (1616–1654)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford, UK: OUP, 2004) His bo ...

claimed ''Calendula'' benefited the heart, but it was not considered an especially efficacious medicine.Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
/ref> In historic times ''Calendula'' was more often used for magical purposes than medicinal ones. One 16th-century potion containing ''Calendula'' claimed to reveal

fairies A fairy (also fay, fae, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, English, and French folklore), a form of spirit, of ...

. An unmarried woman with two suitors would take a blend of powdered ''Calendula'',

marjoram Marjoram (; ''Origanum majorana'') is a cold-sensitive perennial herb or undershrub with sweet pine and citrus flavours. In some Middle Eastern countries, marjoram is synonymous with oregano, and there the names sweet marjoram and knotted mar ...

wormwood Wormwood may refer to: Biology * Several plants of the genus ''Artemisia'': ** ''Artemisia abrotanum'', southern wormwood ** '' Artemisia absinthium'', common wormwood, grande wormwood or absinthe wormwood ** ''Artemisia annua'', sweet wormwood o ...

and

thyme Thyme () is the herb (dried aerial parts) of some members of the genus ''Thymus'' of aromatic perennial evergreen herbs in the mint family Lamiaceae. Thymes are relatives of the oregano genus ''Origanum'', with both plants being mostly indigenous ...

simmered in honey and white wine used as an ointment in a ritual to reveal her true match.

Ancient Romans In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 B ...

and

Greeks The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Greek Cypriots, Cyprus, Greeks in Albania, Albania, Greeks in Italy, ...

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 Christian events in some countries. ''Calendula'' flowers are sacred flowers in India and have been used to decorate the statues of

Hindu deities Hindu deities are the gods and goddesses in Hinduism. The terms and epithets for deities within the diverse traditions of Hinduism vary, and include Deva, Devi, Ishvara, Ishvari, Bhagavān and Bhagavati. The deities of Hinduism have evo ...

since early times. 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 Dumpling is a broad class of dishes that consist of pieces of dough (made from a variety of starch sources), oftentimes wrapped around a filling. The dough can be based on bread, flour, buckwheat or potatoes, and may be filled with meat, ...

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are ...

oatmeal Oatmeal is a preparation of oats that have been de-husked, steamed, and flattened, or a coarse flour of hulled oat grains ( groats) that have either been milled (ground) or steel-cut. Ground oats are also called white oats. Steel-cut oats ...

and

puddings Pudding is a type of food. It can be either a dessert or a savoury (salty or spicy) dish served as part of the main meal. In the United States, ''pudding'' means a sweet, milk-based dessert similar in consistency to egg-based custards, inst ...

. In

English cuisine English cuisine encompasses the cooking styles, traditions and recipes associated with England. It has distinctive attributes of its own, but also shares much with wider British cuisine, partly through the importation of ingredients and ideas ...

''Calendula'' were often cooked in the same pot with spinach, or used to flavor stewed birds. According to sixteenth-century Englishman

John Gerard John Gerard (also John Gerarde, c. 1545–1612) was an English herbalist with a large garden in Holborn, now part of London. His 1,484-page illustrated ''Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes'', first published in 1597, became a popular gard ...

, every proper soup of

Dutch cuisine Dutch cuisine ( nl, Nederlandse keuken) is formed from the cooking traditions and practices of the Netherlands. The country's cuisine is shaped by its location in the fertile North Sea river delta of the European Plain, giving rise to fishing, f ...

in his era would include ''Calendula'' petals.

Culinary

Also known as "poor man's saffron," the petals are edible and can be used fresh in salads or dried and used to color cheese or as a substitute for

saffron Saffron () is a spice derived from the flower of ''Crocus sativus'', commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigma (botany), stigma and stigma (botany)#style, styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly ...

.Spotlight on Marigold.
The Complete Herbal - Herbs and Herbal Remedies. Calendulas have a mildly sweet taste that is slightly bitter, and as it dries these flavors become more intense. It can be used to add color to soups, stews, poultry dishes,

custard Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on sweetened milk, cheese, or cream cooked with egg or egg yolk to thicken it, and sometimes also flour, corn starch, or gelatin. Depending on the recipe, custard may vary in consistency f ...

s and liquors. The common name for ''Calendula officinalis'' in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

is 'pot-marigold,' named so because of its use in broths and

soups Soup is a primarily liquid food, generally served warm or hot (but may be cool or cold), that is made by combining ingredients of meat or vegetables with stock, milk, or water. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ing ...

Dyes

Dye A dye is a colored substance that chemically bonds to the substrate to which it is being applied. This distinguishes dyes from pigments which do not chemically bind to the material they color. Dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution and ...

can be extracted from the flower and produce shades of honey, gold oranges, light browns, and vibrant yellows.

Chemistry

The flowers of ''C. officinalis'' contain

flavonol Flavonols are a class of flavonoids that have the 3-hydroxyflavone backbone (IUPAC name : 3-hydroxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one). Their diversity stems from the different positions of the phenolic -OH groups. They are distinct from flavanols (with " ...

glycoside In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycoside ...

triterpene Triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of three terpene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of six isoprene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squal ...

oligoglycosides,

oleanane Oleanane is a natural triterpenoid. It is commonly found in woody angiosperms and as a result is often used as an indicator of these plants in the fossil record. It is a member of the oleanoid series, which consists of pentacyclic triterpenoids ...

-type triterpene glycosides,

saponins Saponins (Latin "sapon", soap + "-in", one of), also selectively referred to as triterpene glycosides, are bitter-tasting usually toxic plant-derived organic chemicals that have a foamy quality when agitated in water. They are widely distributed ...

, and a

sesquiterpene Sesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and often have the molecular formula C15H24. Like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes may be cyclic or contain rings, including many unique combinations. Biochemical modifica ...

glucoside.

Pharmacological effects

''Calendula officinalis'' oil is still used medicinally as an

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs remedy pain by reducing inflammation as ...

and a remedy for healing wounds.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. ''Calendula'' ointments are skin products available for use on minor cuts, burns, and skin irritation;Calendula ointment
entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms however, evidence of their effectiveness is weak. Plant pharmacological studies have suggested that ''Calendula'' extracts have antiviral, anti

genotoxic Genotoxicity is the property of chemical agents that damage the genetic information within a cell causing mutations, which may lead to cancer. While genotoxicity is often confused with mutagenicity, all mutagens are genotoxic, but some genotoxic sub ...

, and anti-inflammatory properties ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in biology and ...

''.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. In

herbalism Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedie ...

, ''Calendula'' in suspension or in tincture is used topically for treating

acne Acne, also known as ''acne vulgaris'', is a long-term skin condition that occurs when dead skin cells and oil from the skin clog hair follicles. Typical features of the condition include blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and ...

, reducing inflammation, controlling bleeding, and soothing irritated tissue.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. Limited evidence indicates ''Calendula'' cream or ointment is effective in treating

radiation dermatitis A radiation burn is a damage to the skin or other biological tissue and organs as an effect of radiation. The radiation types of greatest concern are thermal radiation, radio frequency energy, ultraviolet light and ionizing radiation. The most ...

. Topical application of ''C. officinalis'' ointment has helped to prevent dermatitis and pain; thus reducing the incidence rate of skipped radiation treatments in

randomized trial In science, randomized experiments are the experiments that allow the greatest reliability and validity of statistical estimates of treatment effects. Randomization-based inference is especially important in experimental design and in survey s ...

s. ''Calendula'' has been used traditionally for abdominal cramps and constipation.Bashir S, Janbaz KH, Jabeen Q et al. (2006). Studies on spasmogenic and spasmolytic activities of ''Calendula officinalis'' flowers. ''Phytother Res''. 20:906-910. In experiments with rabbit

jejunum The jejunum is the second part of the small intestine in humans and most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. Its lining is specialised for the absorption by enterocytes of small nutrient molecules which have been previou ...

, 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. 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. ''Calendula'' plants are known to cause allergic reactions, and should be avoided during pregnancy.

Diversity

Calendula-arvensis-by-Zachi-Evenor-IZE11717

Species include: *''

Calendula arvensis ''Calendula arvensis'' is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name field marigold. It is native to central and southern Europe, and it is known across the globe as an introduced species. ''Calendula arvensis'' i ...

'' (Vaill.) L. – field marigold, wild marigold *''

Calendula denticulata ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species''Calendula''.
Flora of China.

'' Schousb. ex Willd. *''

Calendula eckerleinii ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species''Calendula''.
Flora of China.

'' Ohle *''

Calendula incana ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species''Calendula''.
Flora of China.

'' 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 *''

Calendula lanzae ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species''Calendula''.
Flora of China.

'' Maire *''

Calendula maritima ''Calendula maritima'', known as the sea marigold and trailing calendula, is a very rare species from the family of Asteraceae. Some scientists regarded it as ''Calendula suffruticosa'' subspecies ''maritima''. This halophytic plant is endemic t ...

'' Guss. - sea marigold *''

Calendula maroccana ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species''Calendula''.
Flora of China.

'' (Ball) Ball **''Calendula maroccana'' subsp. ''maroccana'' **''Calendula maroccana'' subsp. ''murbeckii'' (Lanza) Ohle *''

Calendula meuselii ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species''Calendula''.
Flora of China.

'' Ohle *''

'' L. – pot marigold, garden marigold, ruddles, Scottish marigold *''

Calendula palaestina ''Calendula palaestina'', the Palestine marigold, is a species of annual flowering plant in the marigold genus ''Calendula ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species Calendula stellata ''Calendula stellata'' (also known as Sicilian marigold) is a species of annual flowering plant in the marigold genus ''Calendula ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species Calendula suffruticosa ''Calendula suffruticosa'' is a species of herb in the family Asteraceae. It has a self-supporting growth form and broad leaves. Individuals can grow up to . Subspecies The species is highly variable throughout its range, and multiple subspeci ...

'' 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. *''

Calendula tripterocarpa ''Calendula tripterocarpa'' is a species of flowering plant in the marigold genus ''Calendula'', family Asteraceae. It is native to Spain, the Canary Islands, North Africa, and the Middle East as far as Iran. It is a therophyte. References

...

'' Rupr.

Gallery

Image:Flower 2007-3.jpg, ''

'' File:Calendula suffruticosa 0037.jpg, ''

Calendula suffruticosa ''Calendula suffruticosa'' is a species of herb in the family Asteraceae. It has a self-supporting growth form and broad leaves. Individuals can grow up to . Subspecies The species is highly variable throughout its range, and multiple subspeci ...

'' subsp. ''fulgida'' Image:Illustration Calendula officinalis0.jpg, ''Calendula officinalis'' from ''Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz'', by Thomé, 1885 Image:Calendula officinalis and sky.jpg, ''Calendula officinalis'' File:Calendula maritima 0030.jpg, The endangered ''

'' File:Calendulaarvensis.jpg, ''Calendula arvensis'' seeds Calendula Field Marigold Calendula arvensis.jpg, ''

'' in full bloom

References

External links

Flora Europaea: ''Calendula''Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Calendula''
{{Authority control Asteraceae genera Garden plants Medicinal plants