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German Chamomile

MATRICARIA RECUTITA or CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA

Matricaria Chamomile or German Chamomile is an annual plant measuring a few centimeters up to 1 meter. Chamomile is originally from Europe. It is part of the Asteraceae family. Its benefits have been known since ancient times.

CHARACTERISTICS

It contains various chemical components including sesquiterpene alcohol, spirononene dicycloethers, sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, coumarins, mucilage, inulin-like fructan and rhamnogalacturonan.

The essential oil (0.3 – 1.5% of the dry head) concentrates different molecules: chamazulene, sesquiterpene lactone of guaianolide type, purple red chamavioline and pathulenol.

PROPERTIES

  • Beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract:

A meta-analysis involving 273 patients and combining three placebo-controlled studies demonstrated the effectiveness of a preparation of nine herbs including German Chamomile in relieving symptoms of dyspepsia such as abdominal pain or heartburn. The preparation is safe for therapeutic use (MELZER & al., 2004).

In rats, this preparation has a dose-dependent anti-ulcerogenic effect associated with reduced acid and leukotriene production, increased mucin secretion and increased prostaglandin E2 release (KHAYYAL & al.,2001 ; 2006).

German Chamomile reduces the overgrowth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes gastric ulcers (SHIKOV & al., 2008). In addition, it inhibits the formation of gastric lesions induced by indomethacin and ethanol in rats (CEMEK & al., 2010 ; EL SOUDA & al., 2015).

It significantly protects in a dose-dependent manner against diarrhea and oxidative stress caused by castor oil in rats (SEBAI & al., 2014). It also reduces the symptoms of diarrhea in children treated in combination with different plants (DE LA MOTTE & al., 1997 ; WEIZMAN & al., 1993).

  • Anti-inflammatory properties:

German Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties. It restricts the release of prostaglandin E2 induced by LPS. It inhibits the expression and enzymatic activity of COX-2 cyclooxygenase without affecting the expression of COX-1 in macrophages in vitro (SRIVASTAVA & al., 2009).

Two studies have shown the therapeutic efficacy of a cream containing 2% German Chamomile in reducing inflammatory symptoms in patients with atopic eczema on the hands, forearms and lower legs. This efficacy is similar to that of the cream containing 0.25% hydrocortisone (AERTGEERTS & al., 1985 ; RATZELT-WENCZLER & PONCE-PÖSCHL, 2000). It also improves wound healing (MCKAY & al., 2006).

  • Antioxidant properties:

German Chamomile extract exhibits antioxidant activity and reduces the production of chemically active species. In addition, it decreases lipid peroxidation through various mechanisms (MIRAJ & ALESAEIDI, 2016 ; QUERIO & al., 2018).

  • Spasmolytic and analgesic properties:

German Chamomile exhibits a spasmolytic effect by inhibiting cAMP-phosphodiesterase (MASCHI & al., 2008). In addition, it has analgesic effects in acute and chronic pain in rats and mice (KESMATI & al., 2007 ; GANJALI & al., 2012 ; NAUMAN & al., 2012).

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