INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZER TREATMENT ON THE CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION OF SOME CALENDULA OFFICINALIS VARIETIES
CULTIVATED IN ROMANIA
ILIOARA ONIGA 1, ANCA TOIU 1*, DANIELA HANGANU 1, LAURIAN VLASE 1, MARCEL DUDA 2, DANIELA BENEDEC 1
1“Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, 400010, Cluj-
Napoca, Romania
2University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of
Phytotechnology, 3-5 Mănăștur Alley, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
*corresponding author: ancamaria_toiu@yahoo.com
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Abstract:
In order to select a good genetic material for cultivation, the influence of fertilizer on the biosynthesis of active principles
from the inflorescences of six Calendula officinalis L. (marigold) varieties was investigated. The marigold flowers were
cultivated and harvested from Romania, Cluj County. The qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed by
spectrophotometric methods and HPLC. The concentrations of flavonoids (0.43 - 0.66%, expressed in rutin), phenylpropane
derivatives (0.21 - 1.25%, expressed in caffeic acid) and carotenoids (0.40 - 0.75%, expressed in beta-carotene) were
determined. Although the ‘Agrosel 696’ and ‘Starsem 922’ varieties were the richest in flavonoids and phenylpropane
derivatives, other varieties, as ‘Cluj 2’ and ‘Novi Sad’ may be preferred for cultivation as natural sources of carotenoids. The
use of fertilizer stimulated, in small degree, the biosynthesis of flavonoids, but it decreased the quantities of carotenoids and
phenylpropane derivatives. All samples were in accordance with the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia (min 0.4%
flavonoids).

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