The pharmacological effects of marigold and the status quo of research and utilization

Marigold is a 1-year-old herbaceous plant of the genus Marigold of the Compositae family, also known as smelt hibiscus, wormwood, marigold, etc.
It is harvested in summer and autumn.
Its stems are stout and erect, with glands on the leaf margins, releasing peculiar smells and solitary flower heads.
, Yellow to orange
.

Marigolds are native to Mexico, with fewer pests and diseases, and strong viability

Physiological activity of marigold lutein

1.
Antioxidant activity

The flower of marigold is the main raw material for extracting lutein.
As a kind of tetraterpenoid, lutein is rich in conjugated double bonds, has a strong ability to scavenge free radicals, and can effectively prevent oxygen free radicals from affecting cells.
Destroy
.

Some scholars have used chemiluminescence to study and analyze the scavenging effects of marigold lutein on peroxides, superoxide anions, hydroxyl free radicals and lipid free radicals, and found that lutein has a strong scavenging effect on the above free radicals.

2.
Anti-tumor

In recent years, studies at home and abroad have found that the lutein in marigold can inhibit tumor cells such as colon cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, and esophageal cancer
.

Related studies have shown that the anti-tumor effect of lutein is mainly achieved through its inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and induction of differentiation, induction of tumor cell apoptosis, immune regulation, and antioxidant activity

       3.
Inhibit cardiovascular disease

       The accumulation of cholesterol and LDL (lipoprotein) in the human body is an important cause of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease
.

Relevant epidemiology, in vitro experiments and animal model studies have shown that marigold lutein can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases to a certain extent by preventing the occurrence of atherosclerosis

       In addition, the lutein in marigold not only has protective effects on vision diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, but also found that marigold extract can relieve asthenopia, and is resistant to eye swelling, eye pain, photophobia, and vision.
Fuzziness, dry eyes and other symptoms of asthenopia can improve
.

Marigold hydroalcoholic extract helps reduce diabetic complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, and cardiovascular disease.

       Research on Deep Processing and Utilization of Marigold Lutein Products

       Marigold is currently one of the main raw materials for industrial extraction and preparation of lutein
.

Existing extraction technology in addition to traditional solvent extraction methods, in recent years with the continuous development of plant extraction technology, enzymatic method, ultrasonic extraction, supercritical CO2 extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, subcritical extraction technology, etc.

       Although marigold lutein has high physiological activity, because lutein is a fat-soluble substance and there are a large number of conjugated double bonds in its molecular structure, it is easy to be oxidized and decomposed under light, heat, and oxygen conditions, and it is stable And poor water solubility, which limits its deep processing and utilization
.

In recent years, domestic and foreign researchers have carried out the research and development of lutein as a raw material to prepare lutein microcapsules and lutein soft capsules

       Soft capsules are a new dosage form that is frequently used in the field of health food.
It has beautiful appearance, high bioavailability, and good stability, and can effectively prevent the target from decomposing light and heat sensitive components
.

Some scholars choose medicinal soybean oil as the dispersion medium, add beeswax and soybean phospholipid as suspending agent and wetting agent, and optimize the optimal preparation formula of lutein soft capsule through orthogonal experiment.

       Lutein is the main biologically active substance contained in marigolds.
It is also contained in vegetables and fruits such as cabbage, corn, kiwi fruit, spinach, etc.
However, marigolds have the advantages of high lutein content, suitable for large-scale planting, and low cost.
Has become the main source of industrial production of lutein
.
Lutein is a kind of carotenoid, and related studies have proved that it has a clear effect on preventing age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases
.
In 1995, the U.
S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed the practicability and safety of lutein and approved it as a food supplement
.
China listed lutein derived from marigold in the new resource food catalog in 2008.
At present, marigold lutein as a health food raw material is widely used in the production of health food and dietary supplements
.

       references:

       [1]Guo Yaodong, Niu Xian, Ren Jiayu.
Research progress in the comprehensive development and utilization of marigold resources[J].
Journal of Shangluo University, 2019, 033(002):18-23.

       [2] Tan Meiwei, Li Guoyu, Lu Xinyu, et al.
Research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of marigold[J].
Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2017, 034(006): 138-141.

       About the author: Xiao Yisha, a food science and technology worker, currently works in a large domestic drug research and development company, engaged in the development and research of nutritious foods and functional foods
.