Calendula officinalis Asteraceae

P. Lowalowski, J. Burczyk, B. Smietana, A. Stolarczyk, K.Terminska. M. Zych and M. Kopec, The optimization of the chromatographic separation of the inflorescences of Calendula officinalis (Asteraceae) — orange modification. Herba Polonica XLV (1999) 324—333 (in Polish). 

As its name suggests, supercritical fluid extraction (SEE) relies on the solubilizing properties of supercritical fluids. The lower viscosities and higher diffusion rates of supercritical fluids, when compared with those of liquids, make them ideal for the extraction of diffusion-controlled matrices, such as plant tissues. Advantages of the method are lower solvent consumption, controllable selectivity, and less thermal or chemical degradation than methods such as Soxhlet extraction. Numerous applications in the extraction of natural products have been reported, with supercritical carbon dioxide being the most widely used extraction solvent. However, to allow for the extraction of polar compounds such as flavonoids, polar solvents (like methanol) have to be added as modifiers. There is consequently a substantial reduction in selectivity. This explains why there are relatively few applications to polyphenols in the literature. Even with pressures of up to 689 bar and 20% modifier (usually methanol) in the extraction fluid, yields of polyphenolic compounds remain low, as shown for marigold Calendula officinalis, Asteraceae) and chamomile Matricaria recutita, Asteraceae). " ... 

The triterpene-enriched fraction of the supercritical CO2 extract of the dried flowers of Calendula officinalis (Asteraceae) inhibited the croton oil-induced ear edema in mice. Of the identified compounds, the faradiol monoesters, lupeol, F-taraxasterol and a mixture of taraxasterol/ 5-amyrin were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity. Faradiol, obtained by hydrolysis of the extract, was the most active compound. It showed a dose-dependent effect with a potency that equals that of indomethacin at 0.14 fimol/cm2 (48% and 47% edema inhibition, respectively). The esterification of faradiol resulted in a reduction of more than 50% in the activity (only 31% inhibition was observed at 0.14 pmol/cm2), whereas 4/-taraxasterol, a C-16P dehydroxylated derivative of faradiol, was less active (47% inhibition at a dose of 0.28 pmol/cm2) [43]. 

Calendula oil. Extract of the fat oil from flowers of marigold Calendula officinalis, Asteraceae) for pharmaceutical and cosmetic uses, e. g., anti-inflammatory ointments. C. for technical uses is also obtained from marigold seeds. The seed oil contains large amounts (ca. 60%) of esterified calend(ul)ic acid [(8 ,10 ,12Z)-octadecatrienoic acid, CuHjqOj, Mr 278.44, mp. 40-40.5 °C]. The conjugated double bonds of calendulic acid are readily oxidized and polymerized so that C. can also serve as starting material for paints and varnishes. 

Classical examples of anti-inflammatory Asteraceae are Arnica montana and Calendula officinalis, both used in European medicine to treat bruises and contusions. There is an expanding body of evidences to suggest that Asteraceae could be a useful source of anti-inflammatories, such as sesquiterpene lactones and/or triterpene alcohols, the latter being known to inhibit 12-O-tetra-decanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in mice as efficiently as commercial indomethacine by possible inhibition of phospholipase A2 (10). 

Arnica montana, Calendula officinalis, Helianthus annum, Taraxacum japonicum, T.officinale, Tussilagofafara, Taraxacum (Asteraceae)... 

Calendulic acid (unsaturated FA) Calendula officinalis (marigold) (Asteraceae) COX (31)... 

CALENDULA FLOWERS are the dried flowers of Calendula officinalis L., family Asteraceae. 

Fig. 7j8 Calendulae flos Marigold flowers Calendula officinalis L. Asteraceae...

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