The term chamomile refers to the dried flowerheads of either of two distinct plants of the family Asteraceae (Compositae): German chamomile, Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert, also known as Matricaria recutita L. or M. chamomilla, and Roman chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. (formerly Anthemis nobilis L.). Both chamomiles have been used in traditional medicines as antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory agents. Evaluation of hydroalcoholic extracts for antispasmodic activity: H. B. Forster et al., Planta Med. 40, 309 (1980); for anti-inflammatory activity: A. Tubaro et al., ibid. 50, 359 (1984). Stability of extracts: R. Carle et al., ibid. 55, 540 (1989). HPLC determn of flavones and coumarins in extracts: P. Pietta et al., J. Chromatogr. 404, 279 (1987). Reviews: A. Y. Leung, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1980) pp 110-112; C. Mann, E. J. Staba in Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants: Recent Advances in Botany, Horticulture, and Pharmacology vol. 1 (Oryx Press, 1986) pp 235-280.
Habit. Europe, northern and western Asia; naturalized in North America. Cultivated in Hungary, Romania, Germany. Constit. 0.24-1.9% volatile oil; flavonoids including apigenin, luteolin, quercetin; coumarins such as herniarin, umbelliferone; proazulenes (matricin, matricarin, etc.); phenolic carboxylic acids (anisic, vanillic, syringic, caffeic); polysaccharide mucilage.
Extracted from flower heads by steam distillation. Constit. (-)-α-bisabolol (up to 50%), bisabolol oxides, chamazulene, farnesene. Review of constituents: B. M. Lawrence, Perfum. Flavor. 12, 35-52 (1987).
Habit. Southern and western Europe; naturalized in North America. Cultivated in Great Britain, Belgium, France, U.S. Constit. up to 1.75% volatile oil; up to 0.6% sesquiterpene lactones of the germacranolide type (mainly nobilin, 3-epinobilin); flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, apiin, etc.); phenolic carboxylic acids (caffeic, ferulic); coumarins; and thiophene derivatives.
Extracted from flowerheads by steam distillation. Constit. esters of angelic and tiglic acids (≈85%), chamazulene, α-pinene, farnesol.
Carminative; vulnerary. Extracts and oils as topical anti-inflammatory.