Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Calendula officinalis L. Flower Extract

Diva Silva,José Manuel Sousa-Lobo,Isabel Filipa Almeida,Marta Salvador Ferreira,Maria Teresa Cruz

doi:10.3390/cosmetics8020031

Diva Silva, José Manuel Sousa-Lobo + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics8020031

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Abstract

The use of calendula for its lenitive properties’ dates to the XII century. This plant contains several bioactive compounds, including terpenoids, terpenes, carotenoids, flavonoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Calendula flower extract is used in soothing cosmetics, such as after-sun, sensitive skin and eye contour products. The anti-inflammatory properties of this ingredient were demonstrated in an animal model, but the mechanism of action is poorly understood. Therefore, our work explored the effect of a calendula flower extract on NO production, a pro-inflammatory radical produced by nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and highly released by innate immune cells in inflammatory-related pathologies. NO production was evoked by the Toll-like receptor 4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in macrophages, using concentrations that did not compromise cells viability. This ingredient exhibited a dose-dependent NO inhibition, reaching 50% at 147 μL/mL without cytotoxicity. Together with previous literature, these results provide experimental evidence on the anti-inflammatory properties of calendula flower extract, as well as its usefulness in cosmetics with soothing properties and adjunctive skin care in the treatment of the diseases associated with dysregulation of the NO signaling cascade.

Highlights

Calendula officinalis L. belongs to the Asteraceae/Compositae family, which is native to Central Europe and Mediterranean
Ukiya et al evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of isolated compounds from calendula flower extract using the 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced inflammation ear edema assay in mice, but no assay was performed with the full extract [12]
Our results show that nitrite production was significantly reduced in the presence of the Calendula oil, in a dose dependent way, attaining a decrease of 50% with 147 μL/mL of the oil (Figure 1b)

Summary

Introduction

Calendula officinalis L. (marigold) belongs to the Asteraceae/Compositae family, which is native to Central Europe and Mediterranean. Preethi et al showed that calendula flower extract is efficacious for treating both acute (carrageenan and dextran induced) and chronic (formalin induced) inflammation in mice, and they hypothesize it acts by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ), COX-2, and subsequent prostaglandin synthesis [6]. Ukiya et al evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of isolated compounds from calendula flower extract using the 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced inflammation ear edema assay in mice, but no assay was performed with the full extract [12]. Calendula officinalis L. flower ethanol extract exhibited an anti-inflammatory action through the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ), and it was proposed to inhibit COX-2 through the inhibition of the enzymes gene and subsequent prostaglandin synthesis. Molecules which are able to mitigate the production of these pro-inflammatory mediators, including NO, present an anti-inflammatory potential [16]

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