Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Calendula officinalis L. Flower Extract

• Published in: Cosmetics (Basel) Vol. 8; no. 2; p. 31
• Main Authors: Silva, Diva, Ferreira, Marta Salvador, Sousa-Lobo, José Manuel, Cruz, Maria Teresa, Almeida, Isabel Filipa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 2021
• Subjects: Animal models; anti-inflammatory; Anti-inflammatory agents; Bioactive compounds; calendula; Carbon dioxide; Carotenoids; Cell viability; Cosmetics; Cytokines; Cytotoxicity; Experiments; Flavonoids; Inflammation; iNOS; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Nitric oxide; Nitric-oxide synthase; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Skin; skin care; soothing cosmetics; Statistical analysis; Terpenes; TLR4 protein; Toll-like receptors; St Louis Missouri; United States > US
• ISSN: 2079-9284; 2079-9284
• DOI: 10.3390/cosmetics8020031

The use of calendula for its lenitive properties’ dates to the XII century. This plant contains several bioactive compounds, including terpenoids, terpenes, carotenoids, flavonoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Calendula flower extract is used in soothing cosmetics, such as after-sun, sensitive skin and eye contour products. The anti-inflammatory properties of this ingredient were demonstrated in an animal model, but the mechanism of action is poorly understood. Therefore, our work explored the effect of a calendula flower extract on NO production, a pro-inflammatory radical produced by nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and highly released by innate immune cells in inflammatory-related pathologies. NO production was evoked by the Toll-like receptor 4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in macrophages, using concentrations that did not compromise cells viability. This ingredient exhibited a dose-dependent NO inhibition, reaching 50% at 147 μL/mL without cytotoxicity. Together with previous literature, these results provide experimental evidence on the anti-inflammatory properties of calendula flower extract, as well as its usefulness in cosmetics with soothing properties and adjunctive skin care in the treatment of the diseases associated with dysregulation of the NO signaling cascade.