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| Latin Name |
English Names |
Hindi Name |
Calendula officinalis
(Linn.) (Asteraceae)
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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.
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| Habitat |
It
is cultivated throughout India, and often met with as an escape(originally
cultivated, but self propagating plant).
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| 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.
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| Principal
Constituents |
The flowers contain
calenduline, which is the major constituent.
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| 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.
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| Toxicology |
There is no adverse
effect is reported on usage of this plant.
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| Indications |
Medicinally, it is
credited with tonic, stimulant and astringent properties. It is used
in gastrointestinal and genitourinary complaints.
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| Product
Range |
Pilex (VeinCare).
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| References |
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- 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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