Calendula officinalis L.

Caltha officinalis (L.) Moench; and others

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Gold bloom; marigold; pot marigold

Calendulae flos

Flowers (dried ray florets)

The major actives are the triterpene saponins, known as calendulosides and calendasaponins, the triterpene alcohols such as calenduladiol and the heliantriols; sesquiterpene glycosides known as officinosides; carotenoids including lycopene and beta-carotene; flavonoids including quercetin, isoquercitrin and rutin); essential oil; polysaccharides (Basch et al. 2006; Della Loggia et al. 2004; Williamson 2003).

Clinical studies evaluating calendula are sparse and often of poor quality. Calendula cream applied topically has been reported to reduce the incidence of skin reactions (grade 2 or 3) to radiation treatment in women with breast cancer (McQuestion 2011), but other studies have found no difference between calendula formulations and placebo (e.g. Sharp et al. 2013). Even though the evidence based on clinical studies is somewhat limited, its use for skin irritation, inflammation and burns based on long-standing medical experience provides evidence for its use.