CALENDULA - CALENDULA OFFICINALIS - Topical

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This monograph is intended to serve as a guide to industry for the preparation of Product Licence Applications (PLAs) and labels for natural health product market authorization. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the medicinal ingredient.

Notes

Date

May 14, 2021

Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source information

Table 1. Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source information
Proper name(s) Common name(s) Source information
Source material(s) Part(s) Preparation(s)

Calendula officinalis

  • Calendula
  • Garden-marigold
  • Marigold
  • Pot-marigold
  • Ruddles
  • Scotch-marigold
Calendula officinalis Flower
    Dried

References: Proper name: USDA 2018; Common names: McGuffin et al. 2000, Wiersema and León 1999; Source information: Bradley 2006, Mills and Bone 2005.

Route of Administration

Topical

Dosage Form(s)

The following dosage forms are acceptable when used according to the requirements indicated in this monograph: Cream; Gel; Liquid; Ointment; Salve; Solution; Spray.

Use(s) or Purpose(s)

The following combined use(s) or purpose(s) is/are also acceptable:

Note

Claims for traditional use must include the term "Herbal Medicine", "Traditional Chinese Medicine", or "Ayurveda".

Dose(s)

Subpopulation(s)

Children 2 to 11 years, adolescents 12 to 17 years, and adults 18 years and older (McIntyre 2005; Schilcher 1997; Bove 1996).

Quantity(ies)

Liquid dosage forms: Liquid, Solution, Spray

Methods of preparation: Decoction, Infusion, Oil infused

90 - 100% of extract in the finished product (EMA 2018).

Methods of preparation: Tincture, Fluid extract

1 - 100 % of extract in the finished product (EMA 2018; Saunders 2000).

Semi-solid dosage forms: Cream, Gel, Ointment, Salve

Methods of preparation: Dry, Powder

2 - 20%, dried flower, in semi-solid dosage forms (Bradley 2006, ESCOP 2003)

Methods of preparation: Tincture, Fluid extract

5 - 10% of extract in semi-solid dosage forms (Bradley 2006).

Note: For liquid and semi-solid dosage forms, the extracts are prepared as follows: Tincture (1:2 to 1:5); Fluid extract (1:1); Decoction or Infusion: 1-2 g of dried flower in 150-250 ml of water; Oil infused (1:10) (EMA 2018, ESCOP 2003, Saunders 2000).

Direction(s) for use

All products

Apply to affected areas as needed.

Tincture, Fluid extract (Optional)

Dilute 1 part of Calendula extract with 3 parts of with freshly boiled, warm water. Soak the compress and apply to the affected areas for 30-60 minutes. Change the compress several times per day. Remove after 30-60 minutes (EMA 2018; Bradley 2006).

Infusion, Decoction (Optional)

Use the undiluted extract. Soak the compress and apply to the affected areas for 30-60 minutes. Change the compress several times per day. Remove after 30-60 minutes (Bradley 2006; Saunders 2000).

Duration(s) of Use

No statement required.

Risk Information

Caution(s) and warning(s)

Contraindication(s)

No statement required.

Known adverse reaction(s)

Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs (Brinker 2010; Mills and Bone 2005).

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID) and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Storage conditions

No statement required.

Specifications

References Cited

Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinkmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Boston (MA): Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.

Bove M. An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants. New Canaan (CT): Keats Publishing, Incorporated; 1996.

Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 2. Bournemouth (UK): British Herbal Medicine Association; 2006.

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 4th edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2010. 

Ellingwood F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, Volume 2. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1919 original].

EMA 2018: European Union herbal monograph on Calendula officinalis L., flos [Accessed 2021 March 31]. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-calendula-officinalis-l-flos-revision-1_en.pdf.

ESCOP 2003: ESCOP Monographs: The Scientific Foundation for Herbal Medicinal Products, 2nd edition. Exeter (UK): European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy and Thieme; 2003.

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King’s American Dispensatory, Volume 1, 18th edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1898 original].

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester (VT): Healing Arts Press; 2003.

McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. Herbs of Commerce, 2nd edition. Silver Spring (MD): American Herbal Products Association; 2000.

McIntyre A. Herbal Treatment of Children - Western and Ayurvedic Perspectives. Toronto (ON): Elsevier Limited; 2005.

Mills S, Bone K. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005.

Saunders PR. Herbal monograph: Calendula officinalis (L.), Asteraceae. The Canadian Journal of Herbalism 2000;21(1):14-17.

Schilcher H. Phytotherapy in Paediatrics: Handbook for Physicians and Pharmacists. Stuttgart (D): Medpharm Scientific Publishers; 1997.

USDA 2018: ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Calendula officinalis L. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2018 June 19]. Available from: Next link will take you to another Web site  http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

Wiersema J, Léon B. World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. Boco Raton (FL): CRC Press LLC; 1999.

References Reviewed

Barnes J, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition. London (UK): Pharmaceutical Press; 2007.

BHP 1983: British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Cowling (UK): British Herbal Medical Association; 1983.

Blumenthal M. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Austin (TX): American Botanical Council; 1998.

Boon H, Smith MJ. The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to the 50 Most Common Medicinal Herbs, 2nd edition. Toronto (ON): Robert Rose Inc; 2004.

Sweetman SC, editor. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference, 35th edition. London (UK): Pharmaceutical Press; 2007.