Calendula Research Studies

For centuries, Calendula officinalis—often called pot marigold—has been valued for its soothing, healing, and anti-inflammatory properties.

In modern times, this bright orange-gold flower has moved from traditional herbal medicine into the laboratory, where researchers continue to explore its wide-ranging therapeutic potential.

Numerous peer-reviewed studies now provide scientific support for calendula’s role in skin healing, inflammation reduction, antimicrobial defense, and even cancer-related research.

Across clinical trials and laboratory investigations, calendula has demonstrated measurable effects in promoting wound repair, reducing radiation-induced skin damage, fighting infection, and modulating immune responses. The plant’s bioactive compounds (particularly triterpenoids, flavonoids, and carotenoids) are known to contribute to these benefits, offering both antioxidant protection and anti-inflammatory action at the cellular level.

The following collection of peer-reviewed research studies highlights key findings from recent decades, spanning topics such as:

• wound healing,

• dermatologic and anti-inflammatory uses,

• antimicrobial activity,

• anticancer effects, and

• detailed phytochemical analyses.

Together, they illustrate how this humble garden flower continues to inspire new insights in modern natural medicine and evidence-based botanical science.

A Look at Some Calendula Research Studies

Table of Contents

1. Wound-healing & skin-regeneration

2. Dermatologic & anti-inflammatory uses

3. Antimicrobial & antifungal activity

4. Anticancer / cytotoxic & immunomodulatory effects

5. Phytochemistry/pharmacology

6. Clinical trials

1. Jahdi F., et al. — The impact of calendula ointment on cesarean wound healing (2018). (PMC)

2. Preethi K.C., Kuttan R., et al. — Wound-healing activity of flower extract of Calendula officinalis (2009; rat models). (PubMed)

3. Giostri G.S., et al. — Controlled randomized clinical trial: Calendula extract for acute hand wounds (photo-planimetry) (2022). (Taylor & Francis Online)

4. Buzzi M., et al. — Therapeutic effectiveness of a Calendula officinalis extract (Plenusdermax) in venous/pressure ulcer healing (2016). (PubMed)

5. Duran V., Matic M., et al. — Results of clinical examination of an ointment with marigold (Calendula officinalis) extract in venous leg ulcers (2005; clinical report cited in reviews). (PMC)

6. Dos Reis Lima M., et al. — Effect of Calendula officinalis on oxidative stress & inflammation (preclinical wound/inflammation work) (2017). (PMC)

Wound-healing & skin-regeneration (clinical + animal)

1. Pommier P., et al. — Phase III randomized trial: Calendula officinalis vs trolamine to prevent radiation dermatitis in breast cancer (J Clin Oncol, 2004). (PubMed)

2. Babaee N., Moslemi D., et al. — Calendula mouthwash/gel for prevention of radiotherapy-induced oropharyngeal mucositis (randomized clinical study; 2013). (PMC)

3. Preethi K.C., et al. — Anti-inflammatory activity of Calendula flower extract (carrageenan/dextran paw edema models) (2009). (PubMed)

4. Shahane K., et al. — Updated review: multifaceted therapeutic potential of Calendula officinalis (2023 review covering anti-inflammatory evidence). (PMC)

5. Silva D., et al. — Review / experimental paper summarizing molecular anti-inflammatory mechanisms (2021 review referencing Preethi & Ukiya). (MDPI)

Dermatologic & anti-inflammatory uses (mucositis, dermatitis, radiation dermatitis)

1. Efstratiou E., et al. — Antimicrobial activity of Calendula officinalis petal extracts against clinical pathogens (2012; disc-diffusion vs bacteria & fungi). (PubMed)

2. Escher G.B., et al. — Phytochemical & functional analyses of Calendula flowers (chemical profile + antioxidant/antimicrobial assays) (2019). (PMC)

3. Mabuza M., et al. — In-vitro antibacterial efficacy of Calendula vs Pseudomonas aeruginosa (laboratory study) (recent in-vitro work cited in reviews). (Semantic Scholar)

4. Faria R.L., et al. — Comparative antimicrobial activity of a Calendula mouthwash (clinical/microbiology study).

5. Matysik G., et al. — Influence of Calendula extracts on human skin fibroblasts and breast cancer cells (cell-level pharmacology with relevance to infection/wound milieu) (2005). (PubMed)

Antimicrobial & antifungal activity (in-vitro / microbiology)

1. Jiménez-Medina E., Garcia-Lora A., Paco L., et al. — A new Calendula extract produces dual in-vitro cytotoxic and lymphocyte-activating effects; in vivo anti-tumour activity (LACE extract) (BMC Cancer, 2006). (PMC)

2. Cruceriu D., et al. — Review: Calendula officinalis: potential roles in cancer treatment and palliative care (2018 review summarizing in vitro/in vivo evidence). (PMC)

3. Mandrich L., et al. — Different extraction procedures reveal anti-proliferative potential of Calendula extracts on breast cancer vs epithelial cells (2023). (PMC)

4. Matysik G., et al. — Extract effects on fibroblasts and breast cancer cell line (in vitro cell biology) (2005). (PubMed)

5. Supporting phytochemical/mechanistic papers summarized in the 2018 & 2023 reviews (for pathway details & triterpenoid actions). (PMC)

Anticancer / cytotoxic & immunomodulatory effects

1. Escher G.B., et al. — Phytochemical & functional analyses of Calendula flowers (GC-MS, HPLC identification of carotenoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids) (2019). (PMC)

2. Ukiya M., Akihisa T., et al. — Anti-inflammatory/cytotoxic activities of constituents from marigold flowers (identification of triterpenes, etc.) (2006). (PubMed)

3. Shahane K., et al. — 2023 updated review summarizing phytochemical classes (triterpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, lutein, volatile oils). (PMC)

4. Golubova D., et al. — Biosynthesis & bioactivity of anti-inflammatory metabolites from C. officinalis (recent metabolite identification; 2025) — (emerging chemical-biology paper). (PMC)

5. Phytochemical methods papers and chromatography/profiling studies (HPLC/GC-MS) collected in the 2019 & 2023 analyses. (PMC)

Phytochemistry / pharmacology (active compounds, triterpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids)

1. Pommier P., Gomez F., Sunyach M.P., et al. — Phase III randomized trial: Calendula officinalis vs trolamine to prevent radiation dermatitis (breast cancer patients) (J Clin Oncol, 2004). (PubMed)

2. Babaee N., Moslemi D., et al. — Randomized trial: 2% Calendula mouthwash for radiotherapy-induced oropharyngeal mucositis (2013). (PMC)

3. Jahdi F., Khabbaz A.H., et al. — Randomized clinical trial: calendula ointment accelerates cesarean wound healing (2018). (PubMed)

4. Giostri G.S., et al. — Randomized controlled trial: topical Calendula for acute hand wounds (photo-planimetry) (2022). (Taylor & Francis Online)

5. Buzzi M., et al. — Clinical study: Plenusdermax Calendula extract in venous/pressure ulcer healing (2016). (PubMed)

Clinical trials (human subjects only — dermatology, mucositis, wounds)

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