A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing

Abstract

Use of complementary and alternative medicine for wound healing is influencing mainstream medical practice. This systematic review evaluates the role of Calendula officinalis flower extract as monotherapy compared to control for wound healing in vivo. Searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Scopus (up to April 2018) with 14 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, comprising 7 animal experiments and 7 clinical trials. Findings from the review on acute wound healing showed faster resolution of the inflammation phase with increased production of granulation tissue in the test groups treated with extract. These findings were consistent in five animal studies and one randomized clinical trial. Chronic wound healing studies were varied. Two clinical control studies on venous ulcers demonstrated decreased ulcer surface area compared to controls. Another randomized clinical trial demonstrated no improvement for the calendula group in diabetic leg ulcer healing. Burn healing similarly showed mixed results. Two animal studies demonstrated a prophylactic effect for the administration of calendula extract prior to burn injury. A randomized clinical trial of patients suffering from partial to full thickness burns demonstrated no benefit for topical application of calendula extract compared to controls. Two randomized clinical trials assessed the potential for extract to prevent acute post radiation dermatitis, with one study showing improvements compared to trolamine, while the other found no improvement compared to aqua gel cream. Animal studies provide moderate evidence for improved recovery from the inflammation phase and increased production of granulation tissue in calendula extract treatment groups. This review identified some evidence for the beneficial effects of C. officinalis extract for wound healing, consistent with its role in traditional medicine. There is a need for larger, well‐designed randomized control trials to assess the effect of calendula on wound healing including complications.

Using Medicinal Plants in Valmalenco (Italian Alps): From Tradition to Scientific Approaches

“…We present the comparison with scientific literature (for the complete data, please see Table S1 ): Achillea millefolium digestive, anti-inflammatory for several problems (stomachache, muscular pain, rash) and disinfectant [ 19 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]; Achillea moschata antioxidant and antibacterial [ 26 ]; Alchemilla vulgaris anti-inflammatory [ 27 , 28 ]; Arnica montana anti-inflammatory for wounds, cutaneous traumas, muscular, and articular pain [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]; Artemisia absinthium digestive [ 31 , 37 , 38 , 39 ] (however, in a review from 2016 the potential antiulcer effect, with the decrease in the production of gastric juice, is reported [ 40 ]); Artemisia genipi digestive and colds [ 39 , 41 ]; Betula pendula diuretic [ 42 ]; Calendula officinalis anti-inflammatory and disinfectant for wounds, rashes, and burns, improves circulation [ 31 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]; Carduus nutans antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory [ 49 ]; Cetraria islandica expectorant [ 50 , 51 , 52 ] and anti-inflammatory [ 51 , 53 ]; Chelidonium majus skin tags and warts [ 54 , 55 ]; Cichorium intybus depurative of the urinary tract […”

“…We focused our attention particularly on systematic reviews and meta-analysis, when possible, or on single in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials studies, applying no time filters. Based on this data, specific and detailed tables were produced ( Table 4 and Supplementary Materials Table S1 [ 2 , 3 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , ...…”

Hydrogel Delivery System Containing Calendulae flos Lyophilized Extract with Chitosan as a Supporting Strategy for Wound Healing Applications

“…Due to the high potential of Calendulae flos use in wound care, a number of clinical studies have been conducted. Eight clinical trials were conducted assessing the usefulness of Calendulae flos extracts in the wound healing process, including clinical trials evaluating acute and chronic wounds [24,25]. Findings from the studies on acute wound healing showed faster resolution of the inflammation phase with increased production of granulation tissue in the test groups treated with the extract [24,25].…”

“…Eight clinical trials were conducted assessing the usefulness of Calendulae flos extracts in the wound healing process, including clinical trials evaluating acute and chronic wounds [24,25]. Findings from the studies on acute wound healing showed faster resolution of the inflammation phase with increased production of granulation tissue in the test groups treated with the extract [24,25]. Clinical control studies on venous ulcers demonstrated decreased ulcer surface area compared to controls [25].…”

“…Findings from the studies on acute wound healing showed faster resolution of the inflammation phase with increased production of granulation tissue in the test groups treated with the extract [24,25]. Clinical control studies on venous ulcers demonstrated decreased ulcer surface area compared to controls [25]. Three randomized clinical trials assessed the potential for the extracts to prevent acute post-radiation dermatitis, with one study showing improvements compared to trolamine [25].…”