Marigold Extract: Lutein for Eyes vs Calendula for Skin

Both marigolds belong to the daisy family. If you are allergic to daisy-family plants, patch test calendula products and talk to your doctor before taking marigold-derived supplements.

Two plants, one common name

"Marigold" names two different plants, and labels don't always say which.

• Tagetes marigolds include Tagetes erecta, the tall orange or yellow flower native to Mexico, known in Nahuatl as cempasúchil and nicknamed the "flower of the dead" (López Estrada et al., Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 2025). It is also called African marigold. Related species, T. minuta and T. patula, are the source of tagetes essential oil.
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is called pot marigold, marybud or gold-bloom (MSKCC). Its flowers go into creams, ointments, infused oils and teas, and fresh petals are edible.

What is marigold extract? The lutein connection

Marigold petals are the most important raw material for natural lutein used in foods, animal feed and supplements, where it occurs mostly as lutein esters (Saini et al., Foods, 2023). Purified extracts can be very concentrated. One crystalline product made from Tagetes erecta flowers contained about 86% lutein and zeaxanthin by weight and was judged safe as a food ingredient (Kruger et al., Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2002).

Labels often say "lutein from esters" or "free lutein." Esters are lutein bound to fatty acids, the form found in the flower. Some products contain the esters; others list free lutein released from them. Either way, the plant behind the capsule is usually marigold.

What does lutein do for your eyes?

The macula is the small central part of the retina responsible for central vision. It holds just three carotenoids: lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin. These pigments are thought to shield it by soaking up blue light and acting as antioxidants (Wilson et al., Advances in Nutrition, 2021). A meta-analysis of 46 studies found that taking at least 5 mg a day raised macular pigment density in healthy adults, with larger gains at 20 mg or more. Lower intakes from diet alone showed no clear change.

The strongest evidence comes from AREDS2, a National Eye Institute trial in 4,203 people aged 50 to 85 at risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD):

• Adding 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin to the original AREDS formula did not significantly lower progression to advanced AMD in the main analysis (AREDS2 Research Group, JAMA, 2013).
• Beta-carotene in the original formula was linked to more lung cancers, mostly in former smokers, so lutein and zeaxanthin replaced it. NEI now advises current and former smokers to use the AREDS2 formula.
• Ten-year follow-up found a small benefit for lutein and zeaxanthin on progression to late AMD compared with no lutein, and no clear lung cancer signal from lutein (Chew et al., JAMA Ophthalmology, 2022).

NEI sums up the AREDS findings this way: the supplements cut the risk of going from intermediate to advanced AMD by about 25%, but they do not prevent AMD from starting and do not affect cataracts. If you have AMD, the full AREDS2 combination (with vitamins C and E, zinc and copper) is what was studied, so ask your eye doctor which product fits. Our bilberry and eyebright guides cover herbs traditionally linked with eye health.

What is marigold oil?

Tagetes oil is an essential oil from Tagetes minuta or T. patula, used in perfumery. It is phototoxic: skin that has it on and then sees sunlight can react badly. The fragrance industry's standard (IFRA) caps it at 0.01% in most product categories, limits a phototoxic compound called alpha-terthienyl in the oil, and bans Tagetes erecta oil as a fragrance ingredient. The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety reached a similar 0.01% limit and said tagetes should not be used in sunscreens (SCCS, 2016). Do not apply tagetes essential oil to skin on its own.

Calendula oil is a gentle infused oil: dried calendula flowers soaked in olive oil or another carrier oil. Our herbal oils guide explains the difference between infused oils and essential oils in more detail.

Does calendula help skin?

Calendula is traditionally used for small cuts, minor burns and irritated skin (MSKCC). The research is encouraging in places but mixed:

• Wounds: a systematic review of 14 studies (7 in animals, 7 in people) found faster resolution of inflammation in acute wounds and smaller venous leg ulcers in two clinical studies, but no benefit for diabetic leg ulcers or for burns in one trial (Givol et al., Wound Repair and Regeneration, 2019).
• Radiation dermatitis: in a French trial of 254 patients having radiation after breast cancer surgery, calendula ointment led to fewer cases of moderate or worse skin reactions than trolamine (41% vs 63%) (Pommier et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2004). A larger Swedish trial of 420 patients found no difference between calendula cream and a standard aqueous cream (Sharp et al., European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2013), and a small Australian trial also found no difference.

If you are having radiation treatment, use what your care team recommends.

Safety: allergies, pregnancy and dosing

Calendula can cause allergic reactions, especially in people sensitive to daisy-family plants, and MSKCC advises against taking it during pregnancy or breastfeeding because it has not been studied there. Lutein from marigold is a normal food carotenoid. In the 10-year AREDS2 follow-up, taking it was not linked to the lung cancer risk seen with beta-carotene.

Find it at William's

We carry both marigolds, for their very different jobs:

• Now lutein 20 mg (from esters), 90 veg capsules: marigold-derived free lutein for people building macular pigment.
• Now lutein and zeaxanthin (Lutemax 2020), 60 softgels: 25 mg lutein with 5 mg zeaxanthin per softgel, both macular carotenoids together.
• Herb Pharm calendula oil, 1 oz: organic calendula flowers extracted into organic olive oil, for applying to skin.
• Starwest organic calendula flower powder, sold by weight: for making your own infused oils, salves and teas.

We don't currently list tagetes essential oil online; call the store to check what's on the shelf.

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