Symptom → Plant Sources
Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) as a tool for helping with Bruising
inferred from vulnerary action
The effects of oral and topical application of Calendula officinalis flower extract on excision wounds made in rats were checked. The parameters assessed were the days needed for re-epithelization and percentage of wound closure. The hydroxy proline and hexosamine content in the granuloma tissue of the wound was also measured. The percentage of wound closure was 90.0% in the extract-treated group, whereas the control group showed only 51.1% on the eighth day of wounding (p < .01). The days needed for re-epithelization were 17.7 for the control animals; extract treatment at a dose of 20 or 100 mg/kg b.wt reduced the period to 14 and 13 days, respectively. A significant increase was observed in the hydroxy proline and hexosamine content in the extract-treated group compared with the untreated animals. The data indicate potent wound healing activity ofC. officinalis extract.
3 sources supporting Pot marigold for Bruising. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's vulnerary (wound healing) action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
This systematic review evaluated Calendula officinalis flower extract as monotherapy for wound healing in vivo, with 14 studies meeting inclusion criteria (7 animal experiments and 7 clinical trials). Acute wound healing showed faster resolution of the inflammation phase and increased granulation tissue with calendula. Clinical results for chronic wounds, burns and radiation dermatitis were mixed. The review identified evidence for beneficial effects of C. officinalis extract for wound healing, consistent with its traditional use.
In a clinical trial of 60 burn patients, oral Calendula officinalis improved second-degree burn wound healing compared with control, supporting the vulnerary use of pot marigold.
Calendula officinalis cream improved the organisation and healing of injured achilles tendon in an animal model, supporting the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vulnerary use of pot marigold.