Planta Med 2009; 75 - PG40
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234694

The pharmaceutical quality of 10 commercial samples of Matricaria chamomilla L. flowers used for medicinal teas

O Cioanca 1, A Spac 1, M Hancianu 1, E Gille 2, U Stanescu 1
  • 1Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Gr. T. Popa,“ Univesrsity Street, No. 16, 700115, Iasi, Romania
  • 2National Institute of R&D for Biological Sciences/„Stejarul“ Biological Research Centre, Piatra Neamt, Alexandru cel Bun 6, 610004, Romania

This study is part of a larger research for a PhD thesis concerning the quality of commercial Chamomillae flos samples. Knowing that natural products do not necessarily mean safe products, we tried to evaluate the pharmaceutical quality of 10 different commercial samples of Matricaria chamomilla L. The samples were bought from specialized salespeople and pharmacies. A number of qualitative (macroscopic and microscopic tests, thin layer chromatography – TLC) and quantitative (spectrophotometer, HPLC) methods were used to establish the composition of the plant material. The macroscopic study revealed the presence of major impurities for the majority of the plant material and the microscopy indicated that most of the samples contain true chamomile. The qualitative analysis showed similar compound spectra for the flavones and polyphenolic acids. The flavones (values between 0.4915 and 0.8041mg/100g drug) and polyphenolic acids (up to double concentration for the richest sample compared to the poorest) content varied a lot from one sample to the other, confirmed both by spectrophotometric and HPLC analysis. It seems that the ferulic acid is best represented, while the lowest values are found for caffeic acid. All in all, we can state that even if the samples have a similar compound spectra, the extractibility for each active substance is different. Also, the commercial samples can not be considered as equivalent, the role of the pharmacist regarding the right posology is decisive for the expected pharmacological activity.

References: [1] Franke, R. and Schilcher, H. (2005) Chamomile Industrial Profiles, Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, USA.

[2] Wagner, H. et al. (1983) Drogenanalyse, Dünnschichtchromatographische Analyse von Arzneidrogen, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Germany.