Chemical analyzes of Matricaria pubescens and Matricaria recutita polar extracts and their protective effects on 3T3 fibroblasts

Matricaria pubescens (Asteraceae), known as hairy chamomile, is endemic in North Africa and is used in rheumatic and muscular pains, coughs, allergies, ocular affections, dysmenorrhea, scorpion stings, dehydration and toothaches [1]. In Europe M. recutita is used for mild gastrointestinal problems, ulcers and inflammations of mouth and throat, for irritated skin and mucosae and for the relief of common cold [2]. As a part of a project aiming at studying Matricaria sp. the analysis of M. pubescens from Algeria and M. recutita from Greece was undertaken. Methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts were studied by HPLC-PDA-MS and chromatographic analyzes followed by 1D and 2D NMR. In M. pubescens more than 20 compounds have been identified up to now, among them quercetagenin-3-O-glucopyranoside, reported for the first time in Matricaria sp. and two polyamines previously reported in other Asteraceae sp. [3]. Fingerprint analysis and comparison of this species to the officially recognized in Europe M. recutita L. shows many similarities and justifies the ethnopharmacological uses in Algerian traditional medicine. M. recutita extracts from Greece were also found rich in phenolic constituents. The characterized extracts were screened for their protective effects on 3T3 fibroblasts. The cells were exposed to UVA light to 5-7J/cm² in presence of different doses of the extracts. Cell viability and oxidative stress were evaluated by neutral red absorption (540nm) and 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester fluorescence (excitation at 485 and emission at 520nm). Matricaria pubescens methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts did not exhibit a significant anti-inflammatory activity. On the contrary, Matricaria recutita methanol extracts at low doses (0.1μg/ml, 1 μg/ml and 10 mg/ml) showed a considerable protective effect in the milder inflammation model (60min exposure to UV light).

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021

• References

• 1 Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
• 2 Laboratoire d’Obtention de Substances Therapeutiques (L.O.S.T), Université des frères Mentouri-Constantine, 25000, Constantine, Algeria
• 3 Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, ELGO, Institute of Breeding and Plant Genetic Resources 57001 Thermi Thessaloniki, Greece,
• 4 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15784, Athens, Greece