Planta Med 1990; 56(2): 179-181
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960920
Papers

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

On the Accumulation of Apigenin in Chamomile Flowers

A. Schreiber1 , R. Carle2 , E. Reinhard1
  • 1Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie der Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, D-7400 Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
  • 2Pharma-Forschung der ASTA Pharma AG, D-6000 Frankfurt/Main, Federal Republic of Germany.
Further Information

Publication History

1989

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

By preparing and analysing extracts of fresh chamomile flowers from outdoor and greenhouse cultures, it was possible to show that apigenin does not actually occur in living chamomile flowers. Apigenin is the result of post-harvest processes converting apigenin 7-glycoside and its derivatives into the aglycone. The different apigenin/apigenin 7-glycoside ratios reported in the literature for various chamomile samples can easily be explained as the result of different post-harvest conditions. The accumulation of free apigenin in chamomile flowers must be ascribed to the enzymatic degradation of apigenin 7-glycoside and other glycosidic derivatives of apigenin. Thus, the selection of chamomile types yielding large amounts of apigenin seems to be based on a degradation product.

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