Volatile Composition and Biological Activities of Tagetes (Marigold): An Overview

Abstract

Tagetes commonly known as wild marigold is a plant belonging to family Asteraceae. Tagetes minuta L., commonly known as African marigold, is reputed as a source of ‘Tagetes oil’ of trade that finds an extensive use in food, flavoring, pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetic industry. The plant is valued for its essential oil, which is present almost in every part of the plant with little percentage in the stem and roots. The plant is native to South America and has been introduced to many countries since the time of Spanish conquest. Many species of this genus, such as T. minuta, T. erecta, T. patula, and T. tenuifolia, are cultivated as ornamental plants and studied for their medicinal properties based on the basis of their use in folk medicine. Different parts of the Tagetes species are used as remedies to treat various health problems, including dental, stomach, intestinal, emotional, and nervous disorders and muscular pain, across the world. Furthermore, these plants are studied in the field of agriculture for their fungicidal, bactericidal, and insecticidal activities. The plant occurs in temperate forests and mountain regions of the world. Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Jammu & Kashmir are the main sources of “Tagetes oil” in India where it occurs at an altitude of 1000 to 2500m AMSL. The major constituents (90-95%) of Tagetes minuta essential oil are Z-ß-ocimene, limonene (hydrocarbons) and acyclic unsaturated monoterpenes ketones, dihydrotagetone, tagetones (E, Z) and ocimenones (E, Z). The plant possess pharmacological, phytotoxic effect, antibacterial and antifungal effect, insecticidal properties, nematicidal properties, antiviral and antimicrobial activity and also find use in perfume and flavour industry. Its oil has a great demand, so the species holds a lot of potential for undertaking its large-scale cultivation.