Common names | chamomile, German chamomile

Scientific name | Chamomilla recutita

Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | ferulic acid 7-O-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-glucoside

Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-inflammatory

Product name | Chamomile Flower-APD, Chamomile Flower-ANB

Plant Story

Chamomilla recutita, also known as Matricaria chamomilla, is an annual flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It is commonly called chamomile (also spelled camomile), German chamomile, or Hungarian chamomile (kamilla). Chamomile is native to southern and eastern Europe and can grow on all continents. C. recutita has a long history of use and was used by Ancient Egyptians, Greek, and Roman people. C. recutita is used in teas and to add flavor in other foods and dental products. Medicinally, C. recutita has been used to treat cough, bronchitis, fever, cold, inflammation, wounds, and burns.

Chamomile flowers are a source of various phenolic compounds. In a study using HPLC, ferulic acid 7-O-glucoside and apigenin 7-O-glucoside were found to be the predominant phenolic compounds in chamomile flowers. Another study also confirmed the presence of apigenin in C. recutita flowers, and flower extract showed anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting production of nitric oxide (NO), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or murine lymphocytes.