Calendula officinalis

Calendula officinalis

(Fujian Chinese herbal medicine)

[synonym] Calendula officinalis (list of medicinal plants in Guangxi), shuizhangju and shanjinju (Fujian Chinese herbal medicine).

[source] flowers and roots of Calendula officinalis.

[plant morphology] Calendula officinalis

Annual or perennial herbs, 33-48 cm high, with short hairs. The stem has longitudinal edges. The leaves are alternate, 2.2-7.8 cm long, tender, long obovate, light green, without petiole. Inflorescence: capitate, 3.3-7.8 cm in diameter; flower opposite, radial; marginal flower ligulate, 1-2 rows, yellow or orange, disk flower not solid; involucre broad, bracts 1-2 rows. Achenes glabrous and glabrous.

It is cultivated in Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong and Fujian.

[collection] collect flowers and roots in autumn or the second spring, and use them fresh or dry them.

[chemical constituents] the flower contains about 3% carotenoids, including lycopene, sphenoidin, ranunculatin, and chrysanthin; it also contains about 0.02% volatile oil, 3.44% resin, 4% mucilage, 6.84% malic acid, pentadecanoic acid, trace salicylic acid, a small amount of alkaloids, and an enzyme with an organic substance. The root contains triterpenoid saponins. The aboveground part contains bitterness, saponins composed of oleanolic acid and glucuronic acid, kaempferol and so on, and tannin is about 6.45%. The seed contains fatty oil, mainly glycerides of lauric acid and palmitic acid; the unsaponifiable part contains waxy alcohol, sterol and alkaloid.

[pharmacological action] flowers and leaves have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, especially on Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Its antibacterial components are soluble in alcohol but insoluble in water. In alkaline environment, the effect is better. Animal experiments have proved that flower extract has sedative effect on central nervous system and reduces reflex excitability; intravenous injection can reduce blood pressure, enhance heart activity, increase heart beat amplitude, slow down heart rate, promote bile secretion of dogs and accelerate wound healing. European folk medicine is not only used for skin and mucous membrane inflammation, but also for internal treatment of various inflammation and ulcers (such as gastric and duodenal ulcer, gastritis, hepatobiliary diseases, etc.). It can be used for gastrointestinal cancer to reduce poisoning symptoms, improve appetite, sleep, etc. it can also be used for irregular menstruation. Tincture can kill virus in vitro, but it has no therapeutic effect on viral pneumonia induced by a2frunzefluvirus in mice. The results showed that the water extract of leaves had the effect of accelerating hemagglutination (thrombin time shortened), but this was related to the tannins and calcium salts contained in it.

[flavor] light, flat.

[function indications] root: promoting qi and activating blood circulation. Flower: cool blood, stop bleeding.

[prescription selection] ① stomach cold pain: Calendula officinalis fresh root one to two Liang. Fried in water or in wine or water.

② Hernia treatment: Calendula fresh root two to four Liang. Take it in wine and water.

③ Treatment of Baihuang: Calendula officinalis root 1 to 22. Take it in wine and water.

④ Treatment of intestinal wind and hematochezia: Calendula ten flowers, drink with rock sugar. Take it in water. (Fujian Chinese herbal medicine comes from nature and taste)