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Extraction of Calendula using supercritical CO2

July 31, 2013

Calendula officinalis is a annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to the Mediterranean region. The plant is 30-50 cm high and attracts attention by its yellow to orange florescence in June to October. Especially the flowers of the plant are important for cosmetical and pharmaceutical applications. The paper presents the benefits and performance extracting dried calendula flowers using supercritical CO2.

Pharmaceutical significant ingredients of the flowers are especially triterpene faradiol-esters and carotenoids. Traditionally these components are extracted using a classical maceration process with solvent mixtures of water and ethanol. The extracts are intermixed to e.g. creams and distinguish by their anti-inflammatory properties and support of the natural wound healing.

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