Review on Pharmacological Update: Calendula officinalis .Linn

June 2012 Project: Review Article Publication Devansh MehtaDevansh MehtaParkhi RastogiAnkit kumarAnkit kumarAmrendra Kumar Chaudhary Abstract and figures The plant C. officinalis belonging to family Asteracea/Compositae, is native to Central Europe and the Mediterranean, it grows readily in sunny locations throughout North America and Europe. There are about 20 species in this genus cultivated by Egypteans, Greeks, Hindus, and Arabs. Calendula grew in European gardens and has been used medicinally since 12th century. Mainly, the flowers were made into extracts, tinctures, balms, salves and applied directly to skin to help heal wounds and to soothe inflamed and damaged skin. In Italian folk medicine Calendula is used as an antipyretic and anti-inflammatory. The reported pharmacological actions of the plant are, angiogenic property having vascular regeneration parameter affirming the said activity, analgesic properties were confirmed in the flower extract of the plant, it was found triterpenoids were mainly responsible to promote anti-inflammatory activity in the plant, due to presence of faradio esters the plant projects anti-oedematous activity, the additional pharmacological activities explored till date are antimicrobial and antibacterial activity, effective treatment in case of breast cancer, antihepatotoxicity activity, genotoxic and antigenotoxic activity, Hepatoprotective and renoprotective activity, antiviral activity, anti-HIV activity, effective in dealing with periodontal infections, ameliorating incidence of myocardial infarction, antioxidant and anti-immunomodulatory activity, effective treatment for acne, prominent anti-gastric ulcer and wound healing property, effective in dealing with bacterial infections in vets. Further studies of having sun protection factor in Calendula officinalis have also been investigated with positive results. The present review is an anthology of the work done on this potential herbal plant, having prospects of wide areas of therapeutic activity, in a way as an important medicinal source.