bisabolol and chamazulene

Matricaria is a widespread genus of flowering plants of the family Asteraceae that grow in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Some of the species are also naturalized in Australia. Some species of this genus such as Chamomiles are recognized medicinal plants and cultivated in several countries for commercial purposes: to obtain its blue essence, as herbal tea, and for pharmaceutical or cosmeceutical uses. The phytochemical composition of Matricaria spp. includes volatile terpenoids (e.g., α-bisabolol, bisabolol oxide A and B, β-trans-farnesene and chamazulene), sesquiterpene lactones such as matricin, and phenolic compounds (flavonoids, coumarins and phenolic acids). Their essential oil is obtained from the fresh or dried inflorescences by steam distillation, and additionally cohobation of the remaining water. The volatile composition of the essential oil, especially the content of the valuable components α-bisabolol and chamazulene, depends on the plant part, origin and quality of the source, genetic, and environmental factors. Moreover, other parameters, such as season of harvest and methods of extraction, can affect the extraction yield of the essential oils/extracts, their composition and, therefore, their bioactivity. Due to the importance of this genus and particularly M. recutita (M. chamomilla), this review focus on its cultivation, factor affecting essential oils' composition and their role in traditional medicine, as antibacterial agents and finally as food preservatives.

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Azulenes; Bacterial Infections; Coumarins; Farms; Flavonoids; Food; Food Industry; Food Preservatives; Hydroxybenzoates; Lactones; Matricaria; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; Oils, Volatile; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Plant Oils; Plants, Medicinal; Seasons; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Guaiane

The increase in diagnosed cases of anisakiasis and the virtual absence of effective treatments have prompted the search for new active compounds against Anisakis L(3) larvae. The biocidal efficacy against different pathogens shown by various essential oils (EO) led us to study the Matricaria chamomilla EO and two of its main components (chamazulene and α-bisabolol) against the L(3) larvae of Anisakis type I. The activity of M. chamomilla EO, chamazulene and α-bisabolol was established by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The EO (125μg/ml) caused the death of all nematodes, which showed cuticle changes and intestinal wall rupture. In the in vivo assays, only 2.2%±1.8 of infected rats treated with M. chamomilla EO showed gastric wall lesions in comparison to 93.3%±3.9 of control. Chamazulene was ineffective, while α-bisabolol showed a high activity to that of the EO in vitro tests but proved less active in vivo. These findings suggest that the larvicidal activity may result from the synergistic action of different compounds of M. chamomilla EO. Neither of the tested products induces irritative damage in the intestinal tissues. In conclusion, M. chamomilla EO is a good candidate for further investigation as a biocidal agent against Anisakis type I.

Topics: Animals; Anisakiasis; Anisakis; Antinematodal Agents; Azulenes; Drug Evaluation; Female; Flowers; Humans; Larva; Matricaria; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; Oils, Volatile; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sesquiterpenes; Spain

In our study we examined the variability of the essential oil content and composition of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) during three years (2005-2007). Twenty-eight populations of wild origin and 4 registered cultivars ('Soroksári 40', 'Lutea', 'Goral' and 'Bona') were evaluated in open field experiments. It could be established that the experimental populations represented different genetic potential for essential oil accumulation and composition. The best populations of wild growing origin from the Somogy-region and four cultivars produced the highest essential oil contents (above 0.6 g/100g) in each year. Additionally, the quality of the characteristic main compound of the oil determining the "chemotype", according to Schilcher, was found to be stable during the three years period. However, the actual chemosyndroms are significantly influenced by the weather conditions. In the three years' experiment, the moderately warm and relatively wet year of 2006 produced the highest contents of essential oil and also that of its alpha-bisabolol component. Although bisabolol oxide A also showed a high variability through the years, its direct connection with weather conditions could not be proved. A moderate variability was established for the proportions of chamazulene, and the lowest one for bisabolol-oxide B. Considerable genotype-weather interaction was supposed, especially for the essential oil content and for the ratio of bisabolol-oxide A.

Topics: Azulenes; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hungary; Matricaria; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; Oils, Volatile; Seeds; Sesquiterpenes; Weather

The influence of three compounds of the essential oil of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert on the protamine sulphate-provoked degranulation of mast cells from Lewis-1a rats was investigated. The effect was determined by measuring histamine liberation fluorometrically. Chamazulene and (-)-alpha-bisabolol had no distinct effects. The en-yne dicycloether partly inhibited the degranulation in concentrations above 10(-4) M.

Topics: Animals; Azulenes; Cell Degranulation; Cycloheptanes; Histamine Release; Humans; Mast Cells; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; Oils, Volatile; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Sesquiterpenes

Oral mucositis is among the complications of head and neck irradiation and systemic chemotherapy. To determine whether or not mucositis could be prevented or reduced in intensity by using Kamillosan Liquidum as an oral rinse, 98 patients were placed on study protocols. Twenty patients who were treated with radiation therapy and 46 patients who received systemic chemotherapy participated in prophylactic oral care with Kamillosan oral rinse. Thirty-two patients were treated therapeutically after mucositis had developed. Sixteen patients receiving chemotherapy were treated therapeutically and prophylactically with Kamillosan oral rinse during repeated cycles of chemotherapy. Only one of the 20 patients who had had radiation therapy developed grade 3 mucositis in the final week of treatment. Thirty-six of the 46 patients undergoing chemotherapy did not develop clinically noticeable mucositis. It appears that resolution of mucositis is accelerated by Kamillosan rinse. Prophylactic oral care appeared to modify the oral environment favorably and maintain tissue integrity.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Azulenes; Cycloheptanes; Drug Combinations; Flavonoids; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Middle Aged; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; Mouth Mucosa; Mouthwashes; Oils, Volatile; Oral Hygiene; Plant Extracts; Radiotherapy; Radiotherapy Dosage; Sesquiterpenes; Stomatitis