| Latin Names |
English Names |
Hindi Names |
Calendula officinalis (Linn.) (Asteraceae).
|
Calendula,
English Garden Marigold,
Pot Marigold |
Zergul |
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 History
It was formerly esteemed as a domestic remedy and
grew as a weed in northern India. It was used as a
substitute for Taraxacum. The flowers were most popular in
the middle ages when they were commonly used to colour food,
mostly soups. They were believed to have wound healing
properties.
Habitat
It is cultivated throughout
India, and often met with as an escape(originally
cultivated, but self propagating plant).
Morphology Description (Habit)
It is an aromatic and erect annual herb. Stem is angular,
glandular and hairy. The leaves are simple, lower spathulate,
entire, and upper one is lanceolate, with cordate-amplexical
base. The flower heads are terminal and heterogamous.
Flowers are light yellow to deep orange in colour. Ray
florets are fertile. The achenes are boat-shaped and faintly
ribbed. Several cultivars have been developed based on the
size, colour, and degree of doubling and quilling.
Principal Constituents
The flowers contain calenduline, which is the major
constituent.
Pharmacology
It has an antiphlogistic (anti-inflammation) effect in
animal models1. The aqueous extract has
uterotonic effect2. The extract of flower heads
shows estrogenic property3. It also has
spasmolytic activity.
Toxicology
There is no adverse effect is reported on usage of this
plant.
Indications
Medicinally, it is credited with tonic, stimulant and
astringent properties. It is used in gastrointestinal and
genitourinary complaints.
References
- Vet. Med. Nauki., 1981, Vol. 18, pp.87.
- Vet. Med. Nauki., 1981, Vol. 18, pp.94.
- Anonymous, Wealth Asia CD, CSIR, New Delhi.
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