Pharmacological evaluation of Tagetes erecta Petals (Aztec Marigold) with special reference to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential

A complicated biological reaction, inflammation is vital for the occurrence of numerous conditions, especially asthma, atherosclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, all of which offer significant challenges for world health. The therapeutic potential of Tagetes erecta (African or Aztec marigold), a plant in the Asteraceae family that used to be known as Genda Phul in India, is the primary concern of this investigation. The key objective aimed to separate and examine the plant’s active phytochemical components, assess its in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities, and carry out molecular docking and an in silico ADME profile. Its petals also served the purpose to create a novel herbal tea. The phytocomponents of Tagetes erecta were found to number 133 by GC-MS study. Considering in silico docking against inflammatory targets, such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS, ten vital components were chosen from among them. Docking scores, binding energies, bond types, and interactions with target amino acids were employed to assess the molecular interactions. The outcomes revealed significant anti-inflammatory activity, highlighting Tagetes erecta’s appropriateness as a source for herbal formulations. This investigation underlines Tagetes erecta’s medicinal value in healing illnesses linked to inflammation. This work improves the advancement of herbal-based medications by clarifying its phytochemical characteristics and molecular mechanisms, which could unlock the door to novel approaches to treatment for inflammatory diseases.