PMID: 

Phytother Res. 2016 Sep ;30(9):1513-8. Epub 2016 May 30. PMID: 27237110

Abstract Title: 

An Hydroalcoholic Chamomile Extract Modulates Inflammatory and Immune Response in HT29 Cells and Isolated Rat Colon.

Abstract: 

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic disorders characterized by disruption and ulceration of the colonic mucosa or of any part of the digestive tract (Crohn's disease). Antioxidant/anti-inflammatory herbal extract supplementation could represent an innovative approach to contrast IBDs. Clinical trials demonstrated the efficacy of natural formulas, containing chamomile, in patients with gastrointestinal disorders. This is consistent, albeit in part, with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile. The aim of the present study was to explore the possible protective role of a chamomile extract, on human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT29 cell, and rat colon specimens treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce an inflammatory stimulus, a well established model of acute ulcerative colitis. In this context, the activities of different biomarkers of inflammation and lipid peroxidation such as ROS, myeloperoxidase (MPO), serotonin (5-HT), prostaglandin (PG)E2 , 8-iso-prostaglandin (8-iso-PG)F2α , NF-kB, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α and interleukin (IL)-6 were assessed. We found that chamomile extract was as effective as sulfasalazine (2 mg/ml) in reducing the production of MPO, 5-HT, IL-6, NF-kB, TNFα, PGE2 and 8-iso-PGF2α , after inflammatory stimulus. The observed modulatory effects support a rationale use of chamomile supplementation as a promising pharmacological tool for the prevention and management of ulcerative colitis in humans. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.

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PMID: 

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2014 Sep ;27(5 Spec no):1509-14. PMID: 25176245

Abstract Title: 

Chamomile tea: herbal hypoglycemic alternative for conventional medicine.

Abstract: 

Chamomile is considered as one of the oldest and also documented as medicinal plant. It has shown to be an anti-inflammatory, astringent and antioxidant especially in floral part since ancient times. Recent studies reported that chamomile has potential to lower blood sugar levels in hyperglycemia. In the present study we have investigated the pharmacological effects of chamomile tea on fasting and post prandial glucose levels and HbA1C in blood of diabetic rats (alloxan induced) and the results were compared with glibenclamide as standard. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. It has been observed in our study that it has reduced progressively the fasting and post prandial blood sugar levels, significantly in alloxan induced diabetic rats particularly on day 30 and 60. It also reduced the level of HbA1C significantly at the end of the study and the effects were similar to that of the standard group. Chamomile tea administration has also controlled the reduction in weight in diabetic rats as compared to diabetic control and the results were not very much different from standard. Results from the present study indicate that chamomile tea have a glucose lowering effect in diabetic rats so its daily consumption can be potentially useful in hyperglycemia and it can be used as a substitute of conventional drug treatment. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the exact molecular mechanism involved in anti-diabetic action of chamomile.

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PMID: 

J Helminthol. 2018 Mar ;92(2):168-177. Epub 2017 May 8. PMID: 28480837

Abstract Title: 

Anthelmintic activity of Tunisian chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) against Haemonchus contortus.

Abstract: 

The chemical treatment of gastrointestinal parasitic diseases has been undermined by increasing resistance and high toxicity. There is an urgent need to search for alternative natural sources for the treatment of such parasites. In this respect, the present study aims to quantify phenolic compounds of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and to study their in vitro anti-oxidant and anthelmintic activities in solvents with increasing polarity. In vitro determination of anti-oxidant capacity was carried out using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation methods. In vitro anthelmintic activity was investigated on egg-hatching inhibition and loss of motility of adult worms of Haemonchus contortus from sheep. The results showed that methanolic and aqueous extracts contain more total polyphenols, total flavonoids and condensed tannins than chloroformic and hexanic extracts. ABTS and DPPH assays showed that methanolic extracts had the highest anti-oxidant potency (IC50 = 1.19μg/ml and 1.18 μg/ml, respectively). In vitro anthelmintic activity showed that both methanolic (IC50 = 1.559 mg/ml) and aqueous (IC50 = 2.559 mg/ml) extracts had the greatest effect on egg hatching and motility of worms (100% after 8 h post exposure at 8 mg/ml). A significant and positive correlation between DPPH and ABTS tests was observed for all tested extracts. Therefore, total phenolic, total flavonoid and condensed tannin values were correlated with IC50 from both ABTS and DPPH, and with inhibition of egg hatching. To our knowledge, this report is the first of its kind to deal with invitro anthelmintic activities of chamomile extracts.

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PMID: 

Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014 ;27(6):303-10. Epub 2014 Jun 27. PMID: 24993834

Abstract Title: 

Skin wound healing and phytomedicine: a review.

Abstract: 

Skin integrity is restored by a physiological process aimed at repairing the damaged tissues. The healing process proceeds in four phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling. Phytomedicine presents remedies, which possess significant pharmacological effects. It is popular amongst the general population in regions all over the world. Phytotherapeutic agents have been largely used for cutaneous wound healing. These include Aloe vera, mimosa, grape vine, Echinacea, chamomile, ginseng, green tea, jojoba, tea tree oil, rosemary, lemon, soybean, comfrey, papaya, oat, garlic, ginkgo, olive oil and ocimum. Phytotherapy may open new avenues for therapeutic intervention on cutaneous wounds. This article provides a review of the common beneficial medicinal plants in the management of skin wounds with an attempt to explain their mechanisms.

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PMID: 

Phytother Res. 2019 Jun ;33(6):1604-1615. Epub 2019 Apr 21. PMID: 31006899

Abstract Title: 

Therapeutic efficacy and safety of chamomile for state anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, and sleep quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and quasi-randomized trials.

Abstract: 

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to study the efficacy and safety of chamomile for the treatment of state anxiety, generalized anxiety disorders (GADs), sleep quality, and insomnia in human. Eleven databases including PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Central, and Scopus were searched to retrieve relevant randomized control trials (RCTs), and 12 RCTs were included. Random effect meta-analysis was performed by meta package of R statistical software version 3.4.3 and RevMan version 5.3. Our meta-analysis of three RCTs did not show any difference in case of anxiety (standardized mean difference = -0.15, 95% CI [-0.46, 0.16], P = 0.4214). Moreover, there is only one RCT that evaluated the effect of chamomile on insomnia and it found no significant change in insomnia severity index (P > 0.05). By using HAM-A scale, there was a significant improvement in GAD after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment (mean difference = -1.43, 95% CI [-2.47, -0.39], P = 0.007), (MD = -1.79, 95% CI [-3.14, -0.43], P = 0.0097), respectively. Noteworthy, our meta-analysis showed a significant improvement in sleep quality after chamomile administration (standardized mean difference = -0.73, 95% CI [-1.23, -0.23], P 

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PMID: 

Med Hypotheses. 2014 Nov ;83(5):566-9. Epub 2014 Sep 6. PMID: 25238714

Abstract Title: 

Potential effect and mechanism of action of topical chamomile (Matricaria chammomila L.) oil on migraine headache: A medical hypothesis.

Abstract: 

Migraine is a chronic recurring headache for which no complete treatment has been found yet. Therefore, finding new treatment approaches and medicines is important. In this review, we consider the probable mechanism of action of a traditional and ethnic formulary of chamomile extract in sesame oil as a new topical medication for migraine pain relief. Chamomile oil is prepared in Traditional Persian Medicine by boiling aqueous extract of chamomile in sesame oil. To optimize the procedure, we can use a Clevenger-type apparatus to extract the essential oil and add it to the end product. The preparation includes both essential oils (chamazulene and bisabolol oxide) and polyphenols (a flavonoid such as apigenin and its derivatives). It probably possesses pain relief effects for migraines because of the following properties: (1) chamazulene and apigenin, which inhibit iNOS expression in activated macrophages and can lead to the prohibition of NO release and synthesis; (2) chamomile flavonoids, which have a strong inhibitory effect on endogenous prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in RAW 264.7 macrophages and can play the role of selective COX-2 inhibitor; (3) chamomile polyphenols, which possess anti-inflammatory effects due to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in THP1 macrophages and which can reduce inflammation in neurovascular units (NVU) at the site of migraine pain; (4) chamomile, which has neuroprotective effects because of reduced NO levels; (5) sesamine in sesame oil, which possesses an anti-inflammatory effect. These effects are supported by main pathophysiological theories of migraine such as neural and sensitization theories. Chamomile oil is a traditional formulation still used in Iran as an ethno-medicine. Because of the mentioned mechanisms of action, it can be hypothesized that chamomile oil is a novel medicine for the relief of migraine pain.

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PMID: 

J Psychiatr Res. 2018 01 ;96:189-195. Epub 2017 Oct 16. PMID: 29080520

Abstract Title: 

An exploratory study of salivary cortisol changes during chamomile extract therapy of moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: Dysfunctions in stress biology are hypothesized to contribute to anxiety disorders, and to be ameliorated during successful treatment, but limited clinical data exist to support this hypothesis. We evaluated whether increases in morning cortisol and the diurnal cortisol slope, markers of stress biology, are associated with clinical response to chamomile therapy among subjects with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).METHODS: Among 45 subjects with DSM-IV diagnosed GAD in an open-label clinical trial of chamomile, salivary cortisol was assessed for three days each pre- and post-treatment, at 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm. Mixed model analyses assessed whether GAD symptom change predicted the degree to which cortisol levels changed during treatment.RESULTS: Symptom improvement during treatment was significantly associated with pre-to-post treatment changes in cortisol. Subjects who experienced more symptomatic improvement experienced significant increases in their morning salivary cortisol (β = 0.48, p 

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PMID: 

J Psychiatr Res. 2018 01 ;96:189-195. Epub 2017 Oct 16. PMID: 29080520

Abstract Title: 

An exploratory study of salivary cortisol changes during chamomile extract therapy of moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: Dysfunctions in stress biology are hypothesized to contribute to anxiety disorders, and to be ameliorated during successful treatment, but limited clinical data exist to support this hypothesis. We evaluated whether increases in morning cortisol and the diurnal cortisol slope, markers of stress biology, are associated with clinical response to chamomile therapy among subjects with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).METHODS: Among 45 subjects with DSM-IV diagnosed GAD in an open-label clinical trial of chamomile, salivary cortisol was assessed for three days each pre- and post-treatment, at 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm. Mixed model analyses assessed whether GAD symptom change predicted the degree to which cortisol levels changed during treatment.RESULTS: Symptom improvement during treatment was significantly associated with pre-to-post treatment changes in cortisol. Subjects who experienced more symptomatic improvement experienced significant increases in their morning salivary cortisol (β = 0.48, p 

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PMID: 

Gerontologist. 2016 12 ;56(6):1146-1152. Epub 2015 Apr 29. PMID: 26035879

Abstract Title: 

Chamomile Consumption and Mortality: A Prospective Study of Mexican Origin Older Adults.

Abstract: 

PURPOSE: Approximately 20% of adults use some kind of herbal; however, little data exists from population-based study or clinical trials to support effectiveness of most herbal products. Chamomile is a commonly used herb among older adults of Mexican origin. We examined the effects of herbal chamomile consumption on mortality among older adults of Mexican origin.METHODS AND DESIGN: A sample from the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly, a population-based study of noninstitutionalized Mexican Americans aged 65 and older from five Southwestern states (Texas, California, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona). We included all men and women from 2000 to 2007 (n = 1,677).RESULTS: Chamomile was used by 14% of the sample. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses showed that chamomile was associated with a decreased risk of mortality in the total sample (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.92) and for women (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.49-0.92) but not for men. In models adjusted for sociodemographic variables, health behaviors, and chronic conditions, chamomile remained significantly associated with reduced mortality in women (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53-0.98).IMPLICATIONS: The use of chamomile shows protective effects against mortality in this sample of older adults of Mexican origin for women. Further research is warranted in other populations to determine if these effects are consistent.

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PMID: 

J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Mar 9 ;255:112746. Epub 2020 Mar 9. PMID: 32165173

Abstract Title: 

Ginsenoside Rb1 retards aging process by regulating cell cycle, apoptotic pathway and metabolism of aging mice.

Abstract: 

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1), an active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, has displayed various activities such as antioxidative stress, autophagic regulation and apoptotic inhibition. However, the role of GRb1 in natural aging process remains unclear.AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we investigated the anti-aging effect and underlying molecular mechanisms of ginsenoside Rb1 in natural aging process.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated the natural aging C57BL/6J mice by intragastrical administration of GRb1 (100 mg/kg·BW) every other day for 10 months and investigated the effect of GRb1 on aging symptoms. By RT-qPCR and WB analysis, we examined the expression levels of senescence-associated biomarkers and aging-related pathways, including cell cycle, apoptosis and inflammation in aging process. Further,metabolomics analysis was conducted to investigate the changes of aging-related metabolites after GRb1 treatment.RESULTS: Treatment with GRb1 significantly attenuated the aging-induced physiological changes, including slowed reduction of body weight, suppression of hair loss, decrease of arterial wall thickness and heart weight. We found that GRb1 treatment remarkably reversed the changed expression of p53-p21-Cdk2 axis in heart tissues of aging mice, which was responsible for the cell cycle repression. And the activations of apoptosis-associated factors (Bax and Caspase-3) were also inhibited by GRb1 treatment. Further, based on the serum metabolomics analysis using HPLC-MS/MS analysis, several metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers related to the anti-aging effect of GRb1, including glycerophospholipids, carboxylic acids and fatty acyls. Especially, the change of glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway was found to be the mostly changed.CONCLUSION: Our studies suggest that GRb1 retards the aging process in mice by regulating cell cycle and apoptotic pathway, which were associated with the alleviation of metabolic disorders.

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