About this ingredient
Ingredients
Tagetes erecta, commonly known as marigold, is a flowering plant widely used as a botanical source of lutein and zeaxanthin. Marigold flowers contain naturally occurring carotenoids, particularly lutein, which is commonly extracted and standardized for use in dietary supplements. The exact carotenoid concentration, extract ratio, purity, and additional ingredients vary by manufacturer.
Tagetes erecta, commonly called African marigold or Aztec marigold, is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. Its brightly colored flowers are naturally rich in carotenoid pigments, particularly lutein, making marigold flower extract an important botanical source for nutritional supplements.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids found naturally in various foods and are also present in tissues of the eye. Because of this, standardized Tagetes erecta flower extracts are frequently used in eye-health and carotenoid-focused nutritional formulations.
Commercial marigold extracts may be standardized to a specified percentage of lutein and may contain zeaxanthin or other naturally occurring carotenoids. The extraction method, flower material, carotenoid concentration, and formulation can differ considerably between products.
Tagetes erecta should not be confused with every plant commonly called marigold, as several different species can have similar common names. When purchasing a supplement, check the botanical name, flower extract amount, lutein or zeaxanthin content, serving size, and other ingredients on the product label.