The species of the genus Tagetes (family Asteraceae) known as ˝marigolds˝ are usually cultivated as ornamental plants, but are also studied and valued for their pharmacological properties in medicinal practice and for their biological actions in agriculture. The antifungal effect of the extracts, thanks to the content of thiophenes has been demonstrated in numerous studies. The study aims to obtain a qualitative extract from Tagetes patula L. (French marigold) with antifungal properties. The terthiophene in the extract obtained from dried inflorescences of a cultivar of Tagetes patula L. has been assayed by gas-chromatography, based on the calibration curve of the reference substance and has been compared to the content of the vegetal product. The extraction yield of the identified thiophenes, calculated as areas ratio between the extract and the plant, was 78%, while the median recovery ratio of the terthiophene (concentration in plant 0.021%) was 90%. The content corresponds to a significant potential of the antifungal effect of the extract.

The development of new therapies in the field of regenerative medicine is a priority area, which integrates, among other fields of research, the use of active molecules from extracts of natural origin with renewable potential. In this context, the biomedical applications of chitin from various natural sources (entomological, marine etc.), as well as those of keratin from leather waste, are included. The studies we initiated show the effectiveness of the Valke fraction of keratin, isolated from sheep's wool, and that of type L (from insects) and R (from crustaceans) chitin preparations, in modulating cellular processes specific to skin tissue degradation: IL6, IL8, IL1α cytokine-directed inflammation, angiogenic repairing processes (extracellular VEGF) and oxidative stress (oxygenated free radicals). The cellular response of keratinocytes from a HaCaT line under induced inflammation (LPS and TNFα) is manifested by increased intracellular levels of oxygenated free radicals, counteracted mainly by chitin. In case of bacterial infections simulated in vitro with LPS polysaccharide, the antiinflammatory effects induced by Valke keratin on IL6-directed signaling pathways (acute phase cytokine behavior) are noticeable. Moreover, the same effects are reflected through the inhibition of IL8, the chemokine responsible for neutrophil recruitment to the inflammatory site. Nonetheless chitin reduces the release of IL6, while strongly stimulating VEGF for "de novo" angiogenesis in the injured tissue. In addition, the pro-irritant cytokine IL1α is inhibited by chitin and keratin, which suggests a reduction in the epidermal irritant potential. The results guide the applications to several etiologies wound therapy. The studies were carried out within 5 PTE Project / 2020 – BIOTEHKER.