Phytochemical Investigation of Chamomile

Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L., syn. Chamaemeleum nobile L.) and German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L. syn. Chamomilla recutita (L.) or Matricaria chamomilla L.) are both used in a similar way for a variety of health conditions such as sleeplessness, anxiety, and gastrointestinal conditions. Both herbs belong to the Family Asteraceae, and have the same common name of chamomile [1]. The flowering tops of chamomile plants are used to make teas, liquid extracts, capsules, or tablets. They are also often used topically for skin conditions and for mouth ulcers resulting from cancer treatment due to their anti-inflammatory properties. The two herbs are not only morphologically differentiable, but their secondary metabolites are different also [2,3]. The aim of the current project was to investigate the chemical profiles of both German and Roman chamomile, as well as to isolate and identify the compounds that are characteristic for each herb along with the constituents that are responsible for their purported pharmacological properties.

Acknowledgements: This work was supported in part by Science Based Authentication of Dietary Supplements funded by the Food and Drug Administration grant No. 1U01FD004246–01; and the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Specific Cooperative Agreement No. 58–6408–2-0009. References: [1] Gualtiero Simonetti (1990) Stanley Schuler. ed. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Herbs and Spices. Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN 0–671–73489-X. [2] European Medicines Agency: Assessment report on Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All., flos. 27 January 2011, EMA/HMPC/560906/2010, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). [3] Alternative Medicine Review, (2008), 13(1).