Supplement
Calendula officinalis is the pot marigold, a flowering herb whose petals contain plant compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, and it is usually applied to the skin as a cream or ointment. People mostly look at it for skin reactions during radiation therapy, and the evidence is limited: trials found less dermatitis in some cases, though itching results were mixed. One large trial found no difference from a plain aqueous cream, so the findings are far from settled.
Sources: PMID 15084618; PMID 23245940
- Updated
- How we grade
- 11 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 11
- Outcomes
- 24
- Graded outcomes
- 0083
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatitis Risk Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 3 studies | 756 people | ||
Studies that measured dermatitis risk
| ||||||
| Itching Mixed effect | 420 people | |||||
| Mucositis Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 40 people | |||
| Pain | Changes; see studies | 420 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatitis Risk Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 3 studies | 756 people | ||
Studies that measured dermatitis risk
| ||||||
| Itching | Improves (the measure goes up) | 420 people | ||||
| Pain | Changes; see studies | 420 people | ||||
Dermatitis
- Dermatitis Risk: improves
- Itching
- Pain: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatitis Risk Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 3 studies | 756 people | ||
Studies that measured dermatitis risk
| ||||||
| Itching Mixed effect | 420 people | |||||
| Pain | Changes; see studies | 420 people | ||||
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
- Bacterial Vaginosis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacterial Vaginosis Symptoms Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 1 study | 80 people | ||
Studies that measured bacterial vaginosis symptoms | ||||||
Head and Neck Cancer
- Mucositis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mucositis Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 40 people | ||
Skin Health
- Skin Dryness: improves
- Skin Thickness: improves
- Skin Elasticity: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Dryness Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 21 people | |||
| Skin Thickness | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 21 people | |||
Studies that measured skin thickness | ||||||
| Skin Elasticity | Improves (the measure goes up) | 21 people | ||||
Gingivitis
- Dental Health Metrics
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Health Metrics No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 240 people | |||
Studies that measured dental health metrics | ||||||
Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (Yeast Infection)
- Abdominal Pain
- Dysuria
- Vaginal Infection Risk: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdominal Pain No effect | NoneNo effect | 150 people | ||||
| Dysuria No effect | NoneNo effect | 150 people | ||||
| Vaginal Infection Risk | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 150 people | |||
Studies that measured vaginal infection risk | ||||||
| Itching | Improves (the measure goes up) | 150 people | ||||
| Vaginal Irritation | Improves (the measure goes up) | 150 people | ||||
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
- Wound Healing: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wound Healing | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2 studies | 57 people | |||
Diabetic Foot Ulcers
- Diabetic Foot Ulcers Symptoms: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetic Foot Ulcers Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 32 people | |||
Studies that measured diabetic foot ulcers symptoms | ||||||
Mucositis
- Mucositis Symptoms: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mucositis Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 40 people | |||
Key findings
- Dermatitis RiskImproves (the measure goes down)
- Bacterial Vaginosis SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
- Mucositis SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
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- Grade C
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Studies cited
11 studies from PubMed
- The effect of versus metronidazole on bacterial vaginosis in women: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.
- Therapeutic effectiveness of a Calendula officinalis extract in venous leg ulcer healing.
- Evaluation of Calendula officinalis as an anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis agent.
- Comparing the effects of Calendula officinalis and clotrimazole on vaginal Candidiasis: A randomized controlled trial.
- Treatment of acute wounds in hand with L.: A randomized trial.
- Antioxidant capacity of calendula officinalis flowers extract and prevention of radiation induced oropharyngeal mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers: a randomized controlled clinical study.
- No differences between Calendula cream and aqueous cream in the prevention of acute radiation skin reactions--results from a randomised blinded trial.
- Phase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer.
- Use of calendula ointment after episiotomy: a randomized clinical trial.
- Low-level laser therapy and Calendula officinalis in repairing diabetic foot ulcers.
- Calendula extract: effects on mechanical parameters of human skin.