Some Pharmacological & Toxicological Activities of <i>Calendula officinalis</i> Linn. Flower 70% Ethanolic Extract

Abstract

Herbal medicine is the most widely used form of medicine in the world today as it contains curative bioactive ingredients such as alkaloids, coumarins, Saponins and flavonoids. <i>Calendula officinalis</i> Linn. (Asteraceae) is used medicinally in Europe, China and India amongst several places in the world. It is also known as “African marigold” and has been a subject of several chemical and pharmacological studies. It is used in traditional medicine, especially for wound healing, jaundice, blood purification, and as an antispasmodic. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore phytochemical, toxicological and some pharmacological activities of <i>Calendula officinalis</i> Linn. 70% ethanolic extract. The toxicological pattern of the ethaolic extract <i>Calendula officinalis</i> flowers was studied by the determination of LD50 in mice by oral administration of upgrading doses 70% ethanolic extract with continuous monitoring.The oral anti-inflammatory (Formalin induced edema), antipyretic (Brewer’s yeast induced hyperthermia) and analgesic (writhing test)effects of 70% ethanolic extract of <i>Calendula officinalis</i> were carried out on experimental animals. The obtained results revealed that phytochemical screening of 70% ethanolic extract of <i>Calendulsa officinalis</i> Linn. indicates the presence of alkaloid, tannin, Saponin, Glycosides, Resin and flavonoid. The toxicological studies revealed that the minimum lethal dose of <i>Calendula officinalis Linn</i>. 70% ethanolic extract was found to be 2000 mg/kg body weight and LD50 of the studied extract was found to be 2450mg/Kg B.Wt. The pharmacological studies performed on <i>Calendula officinalis</i> Linn. ethanolic extract exhibited significant antipyretic, analgesic and Anti-inflammatory when given in a dose 250mg/Kg B.Wt.