Calendula officinalis
Marygold
Calendula officinalis, commonly known as pot marigold, is a versatile medicinal herb cherished for its healing properties. Renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, it is widely used in topical salves to soothe skin irritations, promote wound healing, and calm inflammation, making it a staple in natural skincare.
- Scientific name: Calendula officinalis
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Calendula officinalis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is further classified under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with the genus Calendula.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Calendula | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Calendula officinalis, is widely recognized by various common names depending on the region and language. In Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), it is called 金盏花, which is the same as its usage in mainland China (zh-cn), Singapore (zh-sg), and Hong Kong (zh-hk). In Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), the name is written as 金盞花.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 金盏花 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 金盞花 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 金盞花 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 金盏花 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 金盏花 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 金盞花 | Wikidata |
| pl | nagietek lekarski | Wikidata |
| qu | Uchuq'aspa | Wikidata |
| fr | Souci officinal | Wikidata |
| es | Botón de oro | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions within the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution is notably evident in Great Britain and Ireland. It can also be found spreading through the Scandinavian landscapes of Norway and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is documented in Middle Europe. Specifically, the plant maintains a stable presence within the borders of Austria.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Calendula officinalis, is highly valued in herbal medicine for the various therapeutic properties found within its different components. The bright, vibrant flowers are the most commonly utilized part, often processed into concentrated plant extracts that are used to soothe skin irritations and promote healing. These blossoms can also be pressed to produce a nutrient-rich seed oil, which serves as a nourishing base for many topical salves and cosmetic formulations. While the botanical profile of the plant is centered on its aerial parts, some traditional preparations may investigate the deeper structures, though the medicinal focus remains primarily on the petals rather than the roots or rhizomes.- Total parts
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 23
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flowers | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| roots | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| seed oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rhizomes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plant extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| petals | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflorescents | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| herbs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hairy roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Calendula officinalis has 63 reported phytochemicals identified across 74 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, quercitrin, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 63
- Scientific sources
- 74
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| saponins | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercitrin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-epicatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| C1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| C5 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Calendula officinalis has 14 reported activities identified across 27 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 27
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimelanogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiphlogistic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiseptic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacteriostatic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Calendula officinalis has 49 reported medicinal uses identified across 64 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wound healing, wounds, antioxidant, atherosclerosis, colon cancer.
- Total uses
- 49
- Scientific sources
- 64
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| wound healing | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| wounds | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atherosclerosis | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colon cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| melanoma | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| radiodermatitis | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| skin cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |