Plant Comparison
Pot marigold vs Chickweed
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Pot marigold and Chickweed: they share 4 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, eczema, inflammation (general), …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Pot marigold | Chickweed | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 5/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Pot marigold |
| Eczema | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Pot marigold |
| Inflammation (general) | 5/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Pot marigold |
| Skin irritation | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Pot marigold |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Principal wound-healing and anti-inflammatory constituents of the flower.
Antioxidant flavonoids and carotenoids give the flower its orange-yellow colour and contribute to its antioxidant activity.
Minor aromatic and resinous constituents of the flower head.
Contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Minor constituents; large amounts of fresh herb have anecdotally been linked to mild gastrointestinal upset, possibly related to saponin content.
Nutritive constituents supporting its traditional use as a wild edible green.
Pharmacological Actions
Calendula officinalis extracts show cytotoxic antitumor, pro-apoptotic and antimetastatic activity across many cancer cell lines and in animal models (preclinical).
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
A Calendula officinalis (LACE) aqueous extract inhibits proliferation (70-100%) of leukemia, melanoma, breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer cell lines via G0/G1 arrest and caspase-3 apoptosis and inhibits melanoma growth in nude mice; a systematic review documents its cytotoxic and antimetastatic antitumour activity (preclinical).
inferred from antifungal action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally very safe for topical use. May cause contact dermatitis in rare cases (Asteraceae family allergy). Internal use is safe in normal doses. Avoid during pregnancy at therapeutic doses (uterine stimulant potential). Generally safe during breastfeeding for topical use.
Duke (2002) rates calendula (Calendula officinalis) and notes anti-inflammatory, wound-healing (vulnerary), antifungal, and antispasmodic activities at experimental levels. Commission E (KOM) approves calendula flower for wound healing and anti-inflammatory uses, both topically and as a gargle. The plant contains flavonoids, triterpene saponins (oleanolic acid glycosides), and essential oils. Dose: 1–2 g dried flower as tea (for mouth rinse/gargle); or as cream/ointment containing 2–5% calendula extract for topical use. Duke notes that calendula is generally very well-tolerated, though Asteraceae sensitivity can occasionally cause allergic reactions (Duke, 2002).
Don’t overdo it as food: some wild-edible-plant research flags chickweed among plants checked for oxalic acid / nitrates—fine in normal amounts, but “huge daily servings” aren’t a smart idea for everyone. (Guil et al., 1997). Kidney stones / high-oxalate diets: if you’re prone to calcium-oxalate stones, treat chickweed like other higher-oxalate greens—moderation. (Guil et al., 1997). Possible stomach upset in large amounts (nausea/diarrhea reported anecdotally; some sources link this to saponins and “too much fresh herb”). (Singh et al., 2022). Pregnancy / breastfeeding: because good human data is limited, many herbal references advise sticking to food amounts or avoiding medicinal dosing unless guided by a professional. (Singh et al., 2022).
Duke (2002) notes that chickweed has primarily folkloric (score f) activity as a demulcent, emollient, and depurative. Its main medicinal applications are external — including soothing inflamed skin, eczema, and itching. No strong clinical evidence supports specific internal medicinal uses. The plant contains flavonoids and coumarins. It is considered generally safe as a dietary green and in topical preparations, though no standardized dosages are established (Duke, 2002).
External Ids
Botanical Description
Aromatic annual or short-lived perennial herb with soft, hairy, oblong leaves and branching, slightly sticky stems. The flower heads are bright orange to yellow, daisy-like, with numerous narrow ray florets surrounding a darker central disc, opening in sunlight and closing at dusk.[1]
Low, sprawling annual herb (Caryophyllaceae) forming mats, with weak trailing stems bearing a single line of fine hairs running up one side, switching sides at each leaf node - a key identification feature. Leaves are opposite, ovate and pointed. Tiny white, star-shaped flowers have five deeply notched petals that appear as ten, followed by a small capsule.[1]
Habitat
Widely cultivated as a garden and medicinal plant; believed native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, now naturalised in gardens and waste ground worldwide.[1]
Native to Europe, now a cosmopolitan weed found worldwide, growing in disturbed ground, gardens, cultivated land and waste places, tolerating cool, moist conditions.[1]
Harvesting
The flower heads (or just the ray-floret petals) are picked by hand as they open, through the flowering season, and dried quickly in a warm, shaded, airy place to preserve colour and resin content.[1]
The whole aerial plant is gathered fresh, ideally in spring or autumn when most tender, and used fresh or dried.[1]
Traditional Uses
Calendula flower is one of the most widely used topical wound-healing and skin-soothing herbs in Western herbal medicine, applied to cuts, grazes, minor burns and skin inflammation, and used internally as a gentle anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial remedy and as a gargle for mouth and throat irritation.[1]
Chickweed has a long European and North American folk-medicine tradition as a cooling, soothing emollient for itchy, inflamed skin conditions such as eczema, and as a nutritious wild spring green. Modern phytochemical review confirms broad anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, though clinical trial evidence remains limited.[1, 11]
Preparations
Dried petals infused in a carrier oil, used as a soothing base for topical creams and balms for skin healing.
Standardised flower extract formulated into a cream or ointment for topical wound and skin care; the best-studied modern form.
Dried flower infused in hot water, 1-2 g in 150 ml, used still warm as a mouth rinse or gargle 2-4 times daily. The EU herbal monograph's posology for this preparation is OROMUCOSAL only - it does not support taking the infusion internally. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Crushed fresh herb, or an infused oil/salve, applied to itchy, irritated or inflamed skin.
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph gives semi-solid preparations containing the equivalent of 2-10% herbal substance, applied as a thin layer to the affected area 2 to 4 times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
The EU herbal monograph gives 1-2 g of the flower in 150 mL water as an infusion, used still warm for rinsing and gargling 2 to 4 times daily, or to prepare impregnated dressings for the skin. This is an oromucosal and cutaneous preparation, not an oral tea. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Lookalikes Review
Dangerous Lookalikes
Not documented
References & Sources
- Givol, O., Kornhaber, R., Visentin, D., Cleary, M. et al (2019) 'A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing', Wound Repair and Regeneration, 27(5), pp. 548-561. doi:10.1111/wrr.12737 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1111/wrr.12737 - Shahane, K., Kshirsagar, M., Tambe, S., Jain, D. et al (2023) 'An Updated Review on the Multifaceted Therapeutic Potential of Calendula officinalis L', Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 16(4), pp. 611. doi:10.3390/ph16040611 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16040611 - Saffari, E., Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, S., Adibpour, M., Mirghafourvand, M. et al (2016) 'Comparing the effects of Calendula officinalis and clotrimazole on vaginal Candidiasis: A randomized controlled trial', Women & Health, 57(10), pp. 1145-1160. doi:10.1080/03630242.2016.1263272 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2016.1263272 - Cruceriu, D., Balacescu, O. and Rakosy, E (2018) 'Calendula officinalis: potential roles in cancer treatment and palliative care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 17(4), pp. 1068-1078. doi:10.1177/1534735418803766 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735418803766 - Rezai, S., Rahzani, K., Hekmatpou, D. and Rostami, A (2023) 'Effect of oral Calendula officinalis on second-degree burn wound healing', Scars, Burns & Healing, 9, pp. 20595131221134053. doi:10.1177/20595131221134053 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1177/20595131221134053 - Kadowaki, W., Miyata, R., Mizuno, S., Fujinami, M., Sato, Y. and Kumazawa, S (2023) 'Prenylated acetophenones from the roots of Calendula officinalis and their anti-inflammatory activity', Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 87(7), pp. 683-687. doi:10.1093/bbb/zbad042 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbad042 - Samra, R.M., Maatooq, G.T. and Zaki, A.A (2022) 'A new antiprotozoal compound from Calendula officinalis', Natural Product Research, 36(22), pp. 5747-5752. doi:10.1080/14786419.2021.2023868 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2021.2023868 - Kaur, J., Sidhu, S., Chopra, K. and Khan, M.U (2016) 'Calendula officinalis ameliorates l-arginine-induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats', Pharmaceutical Biology, 54(12), pp. 2951-2959. doi:10.1080/13880209.2016.1195848 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/13880209.2016.1195848 - Aro, A.A., Perez, M.O., Vieira, C.P., Esquisatto, M.A.M., Rodrigues, R.A.F., Gomes, L. and Pimentel, E.R (2014) 'Effect of Calendula officinalis cream on achilles tendon healing', Anatomical Record, 298(2), pp. 428-435. doi:10.1002/ar.23057 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.23057 - Zhang, X., Wang, R., Finiuk, N., Stoika, R., Lin, H., Wang, X. and Jin, M (2023) 'Active compounds from Calendula officinalis flowers act via PI3K and ERK signaling pathways to offer neuroprotective effects against Parkinson's disease', Food Science & Nutrition, 12(1), pp. 450-458. doi:10.1002/fsn3.3792 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3792 - Kadowaki, W., Miyata, R., Fujinami, M., Sato, Y. and Kumazawa, S (2023) 'Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors from Calendula officinalis leaf', Molecules, 28(3), pp. 1333. doi:10.3390/molecules28031333 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031333 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2018) 'European Union herbal monograph on Calendula officinalis L., flos, Revision 1'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-calendula-officinalis-l-flos-revision-1_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-calendula-officinalis-l-flos-revision-1_en.pdf - Hoffmann, D (2003) 'Medical Herbalism'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Medical%20Herbalism - Nicolaus, C. et al (2017) 'A double-blind, randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of a monograph-based Calendula cream versus a comparator cream', 35(1), pp. 81--89. Randomized trial
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20double-blind%2C%20randomized%20controlled%20trial%20to%20investigate%20the%20efficacy%20and%20safety%20of%20a%20monograph-based%20Calendula%20cream%20versus%20a%20comparator%20cream - Preethi, K.C. and Kuttan, R (2009) 'Wound healing activity of flower extract of Calendula officinalis', 20(1), pp. 73--79. doi:10.1515/jbcpp.2009.20.1.73 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp.2009.20.1.73 - Jimenez-Medina, E. and Garcia-Lora, A. and Paco, L. and Algarra, I. and Collado, A. and Garrido, F (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, pp. 119. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-6-119 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-6-119 - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
- Oladeji, O.S., Oyebamiji, A.K (2020) 'Stellaria media (L.) Vill. - A plant with immense therapeutic potentials: phytochemistry and pharmacology', Heliyon, 6(6), pp. e04150. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04150 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04150 - Demjan, V., Sojka, L., Slezak, P., Kaprinay, B. and others (2021) 'Stellaria media tea protects against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats without affecting glucose tolerance', Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 12(3), pp. 250-259. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.08.003 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.08.003 - Demjan, V., Kaprinay, B., Sotnikova, R., Knezl, V. and others (2020) 'Effect of Stellaria media Tea on Lipid Profile in Rats', Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2020, pp. 5109328. doi:10.1155/2020/5109328 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5109328 - Aleem, M., Khan, R.A., Tabassum, N. and others (2023) 'Phytochemical analysis and gastroprotective effect of Stellaria media (L.) Vill. methanolic extract on piroxicam-induced gastric ulcer in Wistar rats', Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 36(5), pp. 1425-1434. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1835268/v2 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1835268/v2 - Cusumano, G., Flores, G.A., Venanzoni, R., Angelini, P. and others (2024) 'Small Steps to the Big Picture for Health-Promoting Applications Through the Use of Chickweed (Stellaria media): In Vitro, In Silico, and Pharmacological Network Approaches', Food Science & Nutrition, 12(11), pp. 9295-9313. doi:10.1002/fsn3.4505 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.4505 - Ahmad, S., Ullah, F., Ayaz, M., Sadiq, A. and others (2022) 'Lipid peroxidation reduction and hippocampal and cortical neurons protection against ischemic damage in animal model using Stellaria media', Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 29(3), pp. 1887-1892. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.10.033 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.10.033 - Chak, P., Kumar, S. and others (2024) 'In Vitro COX Inhibitory Activity, LC-MS Analysis and Molecular Docking Study of Silene vulgaris and Stellaria media', Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 83(1), pp. 1009-1020. doi:10.1007/s12013-024-01533-0 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-024-01533-0 - Chidrawar, V.R., Patel, K.N., Sheth, N.R., Shiromwar, S.S. and Trivedi, P (2011) 'Antiobesity effect of Stellaria media against drug induced obesity in Swiss albino mice', Ayu, 32(4), pp. 576-584. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.96137 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8520.96137 - Rogozhin, E.A., Slezina, M.P., Slavokhotova, A.A., Istomina, E.A. and others (2015) 'A novel antifungal peptide from leaves of the weed Stellaria media L', Biochimie, 116, pp. 125-132. doi:10.1016/j.biochi.2015.07.014 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biochi.2015.07.014 - Slavokhotova, A.A., Shelenkov, A.A., Andreev, Y.A. and Odintsova, T.I (2017) 'Defense peptide repertoire of Stellaria media predicted by high throughput next generation sequencing', Biochimie, 135, pp. 15-27. doi:10.1016/j.biochi.2016.12.017 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biochi.2016.12.017 - Chevallier, A (1996) 'The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The%20Encyclopedia%20of%20Medicinal%20Plants - Grieve, M (1931) 'A Modern Herbal'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20Modern%20Herbal - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Ramsay, J.R. and Suhrbier, A. and Aylward, J.H. and Ogbourne, S. and Cozzi, S.-J. and Poulsen, M.G. and Baumann, K.C. and Welburn, P. and Redlich, G.L. and Parsons, P.G (2011) 'The sap from Euphorbia peplus is effective against human nonmelanoma skin cancers', British Journal of Dermatology, 164(3), pp. 633-6. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.10184.x Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.10184.x - Merani, R. and Sa-Ngiampornpanit, T. and Kerdraon, Y. and Billson, F. and McClellan, K.A (2007) 'Euphorbia lactea sap keratouveitis: case report and review of the literature', Cornea, 26(6), pp. 749-52. doi:10.1097/ICO.0b013e31805444e5 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0b013e31805444e5 - Fleischman, D. and Meyer, J.J. and Fowler, W.C (2012) 'Keratouveitis from Euphorbia cyparissias exposure is a temporal phenomenon', Clinical Ophthalmology, 6, pp. 851-3. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S32209 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S32209 - Bonetto, Diego 'On the wonderful chickweed, and its poisonous lookalike'. Available at: https://www.diegobonetto.com/blog/on-the-wonderful-chickweed-and-the-poisonous-lookalike Traditional / reference
https://www.diegobonetto.com/blog/on-the-wonderful-chickweed-and-the-poisonous-lookalike - Schneider, D.J (1978) 'Fatal ovine nephrosis caused by Anagallis arvensis L', Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 49(4), pp. 321-4. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/752080/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/752080/ - University of California Statewide IPM Program 'Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) - Weed Gallery'. Available at: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/WEEDS/scarlet_pimpernel.html Traditional / reference
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/WEEDS/scarlet_pimpernel.html
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.