Since ancient history medicinal properties are attributed to flowers of Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae), mainly concerning its healing activity. Studies about the general activity of medicinal plants in healing wounds have been conducted without specifying in which healing phase the plant acts. In this work, the anti-inflammatory and healing activity of the ethanolic extract of C. officinalis flowers cultured in Brazil was evaluated in cutaneous wounds of Wistar rats through macroscopic and histological evaluation. The antibacterial activity of the extract and dichloromethane and hexane fractions was also evaluated. The anti-inflammatory activity of calendula ethanolic extract led to a reduction in plasmatic exudation, hyperemia, fibrin deposition and epidermal hyperplasia, besides resulting in less edematous crusts. There was also an increase in collagen in the granulation tissue and an antibacterial effect. Therefore, calendula ethanolic extract positively acted on the healing process of cutaneous wounds of rats and presented in vitro antibacterial activity.
repair; pot marigold; healing phases; medicinal plants
