Chamomile flower (Matricaria recutita) - Happiness Is

Name<br />

Scientific Name<br />

<strong>Matricaria</strong> <strong>recutita</strong><br />

(<strong>Matricaria</strong> chamomilla; Chamomilla <strong>recutita</strong>)<br />

Derivation<br />

<strong>Matricaria</strong> – from Latin “mater” meaning mother,<br />

feminine<br />

Common Name(s)<br />

<strong>Chamomile</strong><br />

German <strong>Chamomile</strong><br />

Other species used medicinally<br />

None<br />

Confusers<br />

Roman <strong>Chamomile</strong> (Anthemis nobilis)<br />

Part(s) Used<br />

Flowers<br />

Botany & Conservation<br />

Plant Family<br />

Asteraceae<br />

Distribution<br />

Native to Europe, Western Asia, North Africa. Now<br />

cultivated in many countries.<br />

Conservation<br />

<strong>Chamomile</strong> is cultivated for medicinal, cosmetic use and<br />

for gardens. There are no conservation concerns.<br />

Phytochemistry & Pharmacology<br />

Phytochemical Constituents<br />

Phytochemicals currently regarded as potentially<br />

important:<br />

Volatile oil (0.4 – 1.5%) blue colour –<br />

chamazulene (1-15%); sesquiterpenes (up to<br />

50% including (-)-α-bisabolol); (-)-alphabisabolol<br />

oxide A and B, (-)-alpha-bisabolone<br />

oxide A, spiroethers (cis- and trans- enyndicycloether),<br />

sesquiterpenes (anthecotulid),

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cadinene, farnesene, furfural, spathulenol,<br />

proazulene (matricarin, matricin). Chamazulene<br />

is formed from matricin during steam<br />

distillation of the oil.<br />

Flavone glycosides (apigenin) and flavonols<br />

(luteolin glucosides, quercetin glycosides, and<br />

isohamnetin) (up to 8%)<br />

mucilage polysaccharides (up to 10%)<br />

choline (0.3%)<br />

coumarins (0.1%) - umbelliferone, herniarin<br />

tannin (

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Modern<br />

18, 27<br />

Anxiety-related disorders<br />

Gastroenteritis 19 , colic 20 , IBS, food allergies<br />

Wound healing (topical) 21,28<br />

Allergic dermatitis (internal and topical) 22<br />

Preparations & Dosage<br />

Preparations<br />

Dried<br />

Infusion<br />

Tincture<br />

Concentrated extract<br />

Essential oil (blue)<br />

Cream (topical)<br />

Dosage Guidelines<br />

Considerations<br />

Higher dosing appropriate for severe, acute<br />

conditions.<br />

Small Animals<br />

Dried herb: 30 - 60 mg/kg (daily dose divided<br />

BID or TID)<br />

Equines<br />

Dried herb: 4.5 – 9g/kg (daily dose divided BID<br />

or TID)<br />

Humans<br />

Dried herb: 1.5 - 3 g/day<br />

Safety & Toxicity<br />

<strong>Chamomile</strong> is generally regarded as a safe herb for<br />

animals. 23-26<br />

Contraindications<br />

Contraindicated in patients with known sensitivity to<br />

Asteraceae (daisy family).<br />

Herb-drug interactions<br />

No significant herb/drug interactions have been<br />

reported in humans or animals.<br />

Pregnancy & Lactation<br />

Safety during pregnancy and lactation in animals has<br />

not been established, therefore administer with caution<br />

in pregnant and lactating animals.<br />

LD50 - acute oral LD50 and acute dermal LD50 greater<br />

than 5 g/kg body weight (rabbit model) 26<br />

References<br />

1. Berry M. The chamomiles. Pharm J 1995;254:191-193.<br />

2. Cinco M, Banfi E, Tubaro A, et al. A microbiological survey<br />

on the activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of camomile. Int<br />

J Drug Res 1983;21:145-151.<br />

3. Aggag ME, Yousef RT. Study of antimicrobial activity of<br />

chamomile oil. Planta Med 1972;22:140-144.<br />

4. Annuk H, Hirmo S, Turi E, et al. Effect on cell surface<br />

hydrophobicity and susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to<br />

medicinal plant extracts. FEMS Microbiol Lett<br />

1999;172:41-45.<br />

1. Turi M, Turi E, Koljalg S, Mikelsaar M. Influence of aqueous<br />

extracts of medicinal plants on surface hydrophobicity of<br />

Escherichia coli strains of different origin. APMIS<br />

1997;105:956-962.<br />

2. Szelenyi I, <strong>Is</strong>aac O, Thiemer K. Pharmacological<br />

experiments with compounds of chamomile. III.<br />

Experimental studies of the ulcerprotective effect of<br />

chamomile (author’s transl). Planta Med 1979;35:218-227.<br />

[Article in German]<br />

3. <strong>Is</strong>aac O. Pharmacological investigations with compounds<br />

of chamomile i. on the pharmacology of (-)-alpha-bisabolol<br />

and bisabolol oxides (review) (author’s transl). Planta Med<br />

1979;35:118-124. [Article in German]<br />

4. <strong>Is</strong>aac O, Thiemer K. Biochemical studies on camomile<br />

components/III. In vitro studies about the antipeptic<br />

activity of (--)-alpha-bisabolol (author’s transl).<br />

Arzneimittelforschung 1975;25:1352-1354. [Article in<br />

German]<br />

5. Hormann H, Korting H. Evidence for the efficacy and safety<br />

of topical herbal drugs in dermatology: part 1: antiinflammatory<br />

agents. Phytomedicine 1994;1:161-171.<br />

6. Achterrath-Tuckermann U, Kunde R, Flaskamp E, et al.<br />

Pharmacological investigations with compounds of<br />

chamomile. V. Investigations on the spasmolytic effect of<br />

compounds of chamomile and Kamillosan on the isolated<br />

guinea pig ileum. Planta Med 1980;39:38-50. [Article in<br />

German]

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7. Breinlich VJ, Scharnagel K. Pharmacologic characteristics of<br />

the en-yn-dicycloethers from <strong>Matricaria</strong> chamomilla.<br />

Arzneimittelforschung 1968;18:429-431. [Article in<br />

German]<br />

8. Mann C, Staba EJ. The chemistry, pharmacology, and<br />

commercial formulations of chamomile. In: Craker LE,<br />

Simon JE, eds. Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants. Recent<br />

Advances in Botany, Horticulture, and Pharmacology, Vol.<br />

1. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press; 1986:235-280.<br />

9. Holzl J, Ghassemi N, Hahn B. Preparation of 14C-spiro<br />

ethers by chamomile and their use by an investigation of<br />

absorption. Planta Med 1986;52:553.<br />

10. Torrado S, Torrado S, Agis A, et al. Effect of dissolution<br />

profile and (-)-alpha-bisabolol on the gastrotoxicity of<br />

acetylsalicylic acid. Pharmazie 1995;50:141-143.<br />

11. Viola H, Wasowski C, Levi de Stein M, et al. Apigenin, a<br />

component of <strong>Matricaria</strong> <strong>recutita</strong> <strong>flower</strong>s, is a central<br />

benzodiazepine receptors-ligand with anxiolytic effects.<br />

Planta Med 1995;61:213-216.<br />

12. Loggia RD, Traversa U, Scarcia V, Tubaro A. Depressive<br />

effects of Chamomilla <strong>recutita</strong> (L.) rausch, tubular <strong>flower</strong>s,<br />

on central nervous system in mice. Pharmacol Res<br />

Commun 1982;14:153-162.<br />

13. Srivastava JK, Gupta S. Antiproliferative and apoptotic<br />

effects of chamomile extract in various human cancer<br />

cells. J Agric Food Chem 2007;55:9470-9478.<br />

14. Gould L, Reddy CV, Gomprecht RF. Cardiac effects of<br />

chamomile tea. J Clin Pharmacol 1973;13:475-479.<br />

15. de la Motte S, Bose-O’Reilly S, Heinisch M, Harrison F.<br />

Double-blind comparison of an apple pectin-chamomile<br />

extract preparation with placebo in children with diarrhea.<br />

Arzneimittelforschung 1997;47:1247-1249. [Article in<br />

German]<br />

16. Weizman Z, Alkrinawi S, Goldfarb D, Bitran C. Efficacy of<br />

herbal tea preparation in infantile colic. J Pediatr<br />

1993;122:650-652.<br />

17. Glowania HJ, Raulin C, Swoboda M. Effect of chamomile<br />

on wound healing – a clinical doubleblind study. Z Hautkr<br />

1987;62:1262,1267-1271.[Article in German]<br />

18. Habersang S, Leuschner F, <strong>Is</strong>aac O, Thiemer K.<br />

Pharmacological studies with compounds of chamomile.<br />

IV. Studies on toxicity of (-)-alphabisabolol (author’s<br />

transl). Planta Med 1979;37:115-123. [Article in German]<br />

19. Shoukry IF. Toxicological deteriorations of two volatile oils<br />

of <strong>Matricaria</strong> chamomilla and Clerodendron inerme on the<br />

adult house fly Musca domestica L. J Egypt Soc Parasitol<br />

1997;27:893-904.<br />

20. Jakovlev V, <strong>Is</strong>aac O, Flaskamp E. Pharmacologic studies on<br />

chamomile compounds. VI. Studies on the antiphlogistic<br />

effect of chamazulene and matricine. Planta Med<br />

1983;49:67-73. [Article in German]<br />

21. Opdyke DL. <strong>Chamomile</strong> oil German. Food Cosmet Toxicol<br />

1974;12:851-852.<br />

22. Amsterdam JD, Li Y, Soeller I, Rockwell K, Mao JJ, Shults J.<br />

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of<br />

oral <strong>Matricaria</strong> <strong>recutita</strong> (chamomile) extract therapy for<br />

generalized anxiety disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacol.<br />

2009 Aug;29(4):378-82.<br />

23. Charousaei F, Dabirian A, Mojab F. Using chamomile<br />

solution or a 1% topical hydrocortisone ointment in the<br />

management of peristomal skin lesions in colostomy<br />

patients: results of a controlled clinical study. Ostomy<br />

Wound Manage. 2011 May;57(5):28-36.<br />

24. V.M. Chandrashekhar, K.S. Halagali, R.B. Nidavani, M.H.<br />

Shalavadi, B.S. Biradar, D. Biswas, I.S. Muchchandi. Antiallergic<br />

activity of German chamomile (<strong>Matricaria</strong><br />

<strong>recutita</strong> L.) in mast cell mediated allergy model . J<br />

Ethnopharmacol.2011, Sept; 137(1):336–340.<br />

25. Cemek M, Kağa S, Simşek N, Büyükokuroğlu ME, Konuk M.<br />

Antihyperglycemic and antioxidative potential of<br />

<strong>Matricaria</strong> chamomilla L. in streptozotocin-induced<br />

diabetic rats. J Nat Med. 2008 Jul;62(3):284-93. Epub 2008<br />

Feb 13.Koch C, Reichling J, Schneele J, Schnitzler P.<br />

Inhibitory effect of essential oils against herpes simplex<br />

virus type 2. Phytomedicine. 2008 Jan;15(1-2):71-8