MATRICARIA RECUTITA (German chamomile)

MATRICARIA RECUTITA (German chamomile), this perennial herb original from Europe grows in dry areas, has a very strong root and has many properties, among which we can mention its digestive and antispasmodic properties that have been so popular among many of us for the treatment of constipation and insomnia.

Scientific Name

Matricaria recutita

Other names

German chamomile [1].

Description

MATRICARIA RECUTITA (German chamomile) is a perennial plant that grows between 30 and 45 cm, and blossoms between July and August. It has a yellow bright flattened corolla rich on essential oils composed of anthemic acids and tannins, with certain beneficial properties for the treatment of some affections.

The white petals of Roman Chamomile are thicker than the petals from the other chamomile variety, the German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), which petals are also white but thinner and longer, having also a flattened yellow corolla, differing from the raised corolla of Roman Chamomile.

See the difference below, left the German Chamomile and right the Roman Chamomile:

Picture left: German Chamomile                             Picture right: Roman Chamomile

Active constituents

Anthemic acids, tannins, apigenin, coumarins, farnesol, luteolin, chamazulene.

Traditional medicinal use

MATRICARIA RECUTITA (German chamomile) has been used since more than two thousand years ago to treat menstrual problems, gall bladder, fevers, inflammations, gastrointestinal disorders, as an relaxing infusion and as antiseptic.

One of its active constituents, apigenin, is a flavonoid believed to have some influence over the mild sedative effects claimed by this herb. In recent scientific studies, this flavonoid, apigenin, was found to also act as an anti-inflammatory agent [2]. The National Toxicology Program from the US Government cited in one of its articles[3]:

Pure apigenin is used primarily in research as a protein kinase inhibitor that may suppress tumor promotion and that has anti-proliferating effects

Side effects and precautions

See disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

REFERENCES:

[1] Wikipedia

[2] Pubmed: Anti-inflammatory activity of structurally related flavonoids, Apigenin, Luteolin and Fisetin.
Funakoshi-Tago M, Nakamura K, Tago K, Mashino T, Kasahara T.
Department of Biochemistry, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan.

[2] National Toxicology Program. Study on Apigenin prepared for NCI by Technical Resources International