The Medicinal Marigolds Tagetes erecta - African marigold Tagetes erecta has promise in the treatment of various ailments, the flower parts of plants have hepatoprotective, anti-oxidant, anti-seizure, antidepressant/anxiolytic and analgesic activity. Data support the anxiolytic and sedative-like properties of T. erecta in traditional medicine [1] by involving mainly serotonergic neurotransmission because of the presence in part of flavonoids and the terpenoid β-sitosterol. Serotonergic, nitrergic pathway, and sigma receptors are possibly involved in mediating antidepressant action of T. erecta. It's a good source of carotenoids (mainly xanthophylls), too. [1] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.06.064 Tagetes lucida - Mexican tarragon One source states it to be "vitally important to use very fresh leaves" and experimenters state a dose of 2,000 mg - most participants felt no need to increase the dosage further to “...creates a ‘lucid’ state which can be appreciated in a number of ways: listening to music, contemplating, grooving, introspection, communication, etc. Some of the effects noted are: clarity, alertness, closed-eye visuals, body warmth, body tingles, feeling of well-being, and some time-distortion. The period of alteration lasted 2 to 3 hours in most cases and there was no interference with sleeping afterwards, although many reported increased dreaming 1 (sometimes with weird content).” [1] It is used historically in religious ceremonies including Huichol Indians who ceremonially smoke it with Mapacho and it is also used with other sacred plant medicines [2,3] T. lucida is recommended for treating emotional and nervous disorders, often as part of a mixture with other anxiolytic plants [4] Mexican traditional medicine prescribes T. lucida for “nervios” and “susto”, two culture- bound syndromes described as illnesses characterized by a “state of bodily and mental unrest” able to decrease the ability to achieve daily goals and as a condition of being frightened and “chronic somatic suffering stemming from emotional trauma” "It is used for producing a fragrant smoke (sahumar) to ritually clean houses of evil spirits. The use in sweat baths (temazcal) and for ritual cleansing (“limpias”) are related" Anxiolytic and sedative-like activities through 5-HT1A and GABA/BZD receptors possibly through 6,7,8-trimethoxycoumarin (dimethylfraxetin). Other coumarins have also been reported from the species, such as herniarine (7-methoxycoumarin), scoparone (6,7- dimethoxycoumarin), and the dimethyl allyl ether of 7-hydroxy-coumarin, umbelliferone, esculetin and scopoletin along with flavonoids, some of them with known anxiolytic-like activity, have been reported in polar extracts of this species. Significant anxiolytic-like response effects were found in animal models from 10 mg/kg onward of the aqueous extract An influence on serotonergic neurotransmission by T. lucida was also reported in the antidepressant effects which were likely the result of modulation of serotonin reuptake/release, dependent on 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors. There is not only a significant involvement of the serotonin neurotransmission in the mechanisms of central effects of this species, but also GABAergic participation [5] It is is a source of phenylpropanoid EOs: "at least four chemotypes can exist, characterized by the main presence of (a) high levels of (E)-anethole (up to 74%) and low to very low levels of methyl chavicol (11.57%) or methyleugenol (1.8%), and germacrene D; (b) high levels of methyl chavicol (up to 97%), in addition to methyleugenol, methylisoeugenol, and germacrene D; (c) high levels of methyl eugenol (up to 80%), in addition to methylchavicol and methylisoeugenol; and (d) high amounts of nerolidol (around 40%), in addition to methyleugenol, methylchavicol, and caryophyllene oxide" [1] https://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/mexican-tarragon-tagetes-lucida.html [2] https://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/sites/default/files/jahg_spring_2017 _la_abuelita_trujillo_with_cover.pdf [3] http://entheology.com/plants/tagetes-lucida-marigolds/ 2 [4] https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/23/11/2847/pdf [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26873624 3