Calendula (a.k.a. marigold) is best known for its wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties.  According to the PDR for Herbal Medicines Calendula flowers “are antimicrobial due to the terpene alkaloids, lactone and flavones contained in the essential oil.  Flavonoids isolated from flowers of Calendula officinalis demonstrated positive antimicrobrial activity against Staphylococcus aureus…Kebsiella pneumoniae, Sarica lutea and Candida monosa”.  It goes on to say that “topical application of Calendula has been shown to enhance the granulation and epithelialization of damaged skin (Kloucheck-Popova et al., 1982).”