The flower of this medicinal botanical is approved to treat wounds, burns, and mucosal inflammation. The above ground parts of the Marigold plant are not approved for therapy. This herb is homeopathy for frostbite, burns, and poorly healing wounds. The therapeutic mechanisms include antimicrobial activity to Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida species, and HIV. Acceleration of granulation tissue, angiogenesis, and epithelialization of wounds are additional therapeutic effects. Faradiol is a terpene alcohol extracted from Marigold with anti-inflammatory effect equivalent to indomethacin
in two animal studies. The major active compounds include polysaccharides such as arabinogalactans which comprise 15% of the extract by weight and triterpene saponin glycosides which comprise 2-10%. Other active compounds include flavonoids such as quercetin glycoside, hydroxycoumarins including scopoletin, volatile oils such as cadinol, and carotinoids including lutein and zeaxanthine.
A very low risk of sensitization (0.2%) is the only health hazard. Marigold flower is administered as a liquid extract, powder, tincture, tea, or decoction for infusion, oil, gel, ointment, solution, and shampoo (3).