Matricaria chamomilla

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Matricaria chamomilla
Matricaria February 2008-1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Matricaria
Species:
M. chamomilla
Binomial name
Matricaria chamomilla
L.
Synonyms [1]

Chamomilla chamomilla(L.) Rydb.
Chamomilla recutita(L.) Rauschert
Matricaria recutitaL.
Matricaria suaveolensL.
etc.

Contents

Matricaria chamomilla (synonym: Matricaria recutita), commonly known as chamomile (also spelled camomile), German chamomile, [2] Hungarian chamomile (kamilla), wild chamomile, blue chamomile, or scented mayweed, [3] [4] is an annual plant of the composite family Asteraceae. Commonly, the name M. recutita is applied to the herbal product chamomile, although other species are also used as chamomile. [2] The plant is commonly used to make a tea.

Description

Flowers of M. recutita:
A. Yellow disc florets
B. White ray florets Fiore Asteraceae 04.png
Flowers of M. recutita:
A. Yellow disc florets
B. White ray florets
Chamomile Kamomillasaunio (Matricaria recutita).JPG
Chamomile

Matricaria chamomilla is a member of the Asteraceae family, native to southern and eastern Europe. It can be found on all continents, has a branched, erect and smooth stem, and grows to a height of 15–60 cm (6–24 in). [5] The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate. The flowers are borne in paniculate flower heads (capitula). The white ray florets are furnished with a ligule, while the disc florets are yellow. The hollow receptacle is swollen and lacks scales. This property distinguishes German chamomile from corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), which has a receptacle with scales. The flowers bloom in early to midsummer and are fragrant. [5]

The essential oil of the flowers gives them a characteristic smell and has interesting properties. The blue color of the oil, attributable to the chamazulene it contains, explains why the plant is also known by the common name blue chamomile. The fruit is a yellowish-brown achene. [5]

Etymology

The word chamomile comes from the Greek χαμαίμηλον (chamaimēlon) meaning "earth-apple", [6] which is derived from χαμαί (chamai) meaning "on the ground" [7] and μήλον (mēlon) meaning "apple". [8] It is so called because of the apple-like scent of the plant.

In Latin, one of the meanings of matrix is womb; the name Matricaria was given to the genus because Matricaria chamomilla was used in ancient herbalism to treat cramps and sleep disorders related to premenstrual syndrome.[ citation needed ]

Uses

Matricariae flos: Dried M. chamomilla flower as commonly used in herbal tea Matricariae flos dried.jpg
Matricariae flos: Dried M. chamomilla flower as commonly used in herbal tea
German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) essential oil in clear glass vial GermanChamomileEssOil.png
German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) essential oil in clear glass vial

Chamomile is commonly used to make a tea. [2] German chamomile is used in herbal medicine. [2] [9]

Phytochemistry

The flowers contain between 0.3 and 1.5% of the essential oil. [10] It is extracted by distillation, mostly out of fresh flower buds and flower stalks. Bisabolol accounts for up to 33% of the oil's content. [11]

More than 120 chemical constituents have been identified in chamomile flower, most of them found in the essential oil. [5] [12] Chemical constituents of the essential oil include bisabolol, farnesene, chamazulene, apigenin, quercetin, patuletin, luteolin, and coumarin. [13]

Possible side effects

Chamomile, a relative of ragweed, can cause allergy symptoms and can cross-react with ragweed pollen in individuals with ragweed allergies. [2] [9] Contact dermatitis may occur when touching the plant. [2] When consuming the tea, there is potential for drug interactions with anticoagulants. [2]

Cultivation

Chamomile does not need special soil, although it grows best on well balanced soils with good topsoil. [10] It can be planted as an annual crop in either autumn or spring, or it can be treated as a perennial due to its ability to self-seed. [11] [14]

Aphids are a major insect pest in chamomile production. Its most significant diseases in Europe are downy mildew, powdery mildew and rust. [10]

The chamomile plant often flowers 2 to 3 times per year. [10] This is taken into account by multiple harvests per year as well. The flowering period is about 50–65 days while the development of a flower takes about 20–25 days. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parsley</span> Species of flowering plant in the celery family Apiaceae cultivated as an herb

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<i>Hydrangea</i> Genus of flowering plants

Hydrangea, commonly named the hortensia, is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Korea, and Japan. Most are shrubs 1–3 m tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 m (100 ft) by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamomile</span> Common name for several daisy-like plants

Chamomile or camomile is the common name for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae. Two of the species, Matricaria chamomilla and Chamaemelum nobile, are commonly used to make herbal infusions for beverages. There has been limited research as to whether consuming chamomile in foods or beverages is effective in treating medical conditions.

<i>Matricaria discoidea</i> Species of flowering plant

Matricaria discoidea, commonly known as pineappleweed, wild chamomile, disc mayweed, and rayless mayweed, is an annual plant native to North America and introduced to Eurasia where it grows as a common herb of fields, gardens, and roadsides. It is in the daisy family Asteraceae. The flowers exude a chamomile/pineapple aroma when crushed. They are edible and have been used in salads and to make herbal tea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajwain</span> Species of plant

Ajwain or ajowan —also known as ajowan caraway, omam , thymol seeds, bishop's weed, or carom—is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Both the leaves and the seed‑like fruit of the plant are consumed by humans. The name "bishop's weed" also is a common name for other plants. The "seed" is often confused with lovage seed.

<i>Vitex agnus-castus</i> Species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae

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<i>Matricaria</i> Genus of plants

Matricaria is a genus of flowering plants in the chamomile tribe within the sunflower family. Some of the species have the common name of "mayweed", but this name also refers to plants not in this genus.

<i>Tanacetum parthenium</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Tanacetum parthenium, known as feverfew, is a flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae. It may be grown as an ornament, and may be identified by its synonyms, Chrysanthemum parthenium and Pyrethrum parthenium. It is also used as a herbal medicine in the traditional sense and a dietary supplement to treat headache and other ailments, as well more recently in topical skin care as an antioxidant.

<i>Tripleurospermum inodorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Tripleurospermum inodorum, common names scentless false mayweed, scentless mayweed, scentless chamomile, and Baldr's brow, is the type species of Tripleurospermum. This plant is native to Eurasia and North Africa, and introduced to North America, where it is commonly found in fields, fallow land and gardens.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bisabolol</span> Chemical compound

Bisabolol, or more formally α-(−)-bisabolol or also known as levomenol, is a natural monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol. It is a colorless viscous oil that is the primary constituent of the essential oil from German chamomile and Myoporum crassifolium. High concentrations of bisabolol can also be found in certain medicinal cannabis cultivars. It is poorly soluble in water and glycerine, but soluble in ethanol. The enantiomer, α-(+)-bisabolol, is also found naturally but is rare. Synthetic bisabolol is usually a racemic mixture of the two, α-(±)-bisabolol. It is the terpenoid responsible for distinctive aroma of chamomile flowers, and when isolated, its scent has also has been likened to apples, sugar and honey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infusion</span> Process of extracting chemical compounds or flavors from plant material in a solvent

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<i>Anthemis cotula</i> Species of flowering plant

Anthemis cotula, also known as stinking chamomile, or mayweed, is a flowering annual plant with a noticeable and strong odor. The odor is often considered unpleasant, and it is from this that it gains the common epithet "stinking". In pre-colonial times, its distribution was limited to the Old Continent and Africa; though it was established in most of Europe, it was not present in Finland, Ireland, or the northernmost reaches of Scotland, in spite of the fact that these countries feature climatic regions favorable to this plant and are in proximity to countries where the species is native, such as Russia, Estonia, Lithuania and England. It has successfully migrated to the American continents where it can be found growing in meadows, alongside roads, and in fields.

<i>Chamaedaphne</i> Genus of flowering plants

Chamaedaphne calyculata, known commonly as leatherleaf or cassandra, is a perennial dwarf shrub in the plant family Ericaceae and the only species in the genus Chamaedaphne. It is commonly seen in cold, acidic bogs and forms large, spreading colonies.

<i>Chamaemelum nobile</i> Species of plants

Chamaemelum nobile, commonly known as chamomile, is a low perennial plant found in dry fields and around gardens and cultivated grounds in Europe, North America, and South America. Its synonym is Anthemis nobilis, with various common names, such as Roman chamomile, English chamomile, garden chamomile, ground apple, low chamomile, mother's daisy or whig plant. C. nobile is one source of the herbal product known as chamomile using dried flowers for flavoring teas or as a fragrance used in aromatherapy. Chamomile has no established medicinal properties.

<i>Warionia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Warionia is a genus in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae. The only known species is Warionia saharae, an endemic of Algeria and Morocco, and it is locally known in the Berber language as afessas, abessas or tazart n-îfiss. It is an aromatic, thistle-like shrub of ½–2 m high, that contains a white latex, and has fleshy, pinnately divided, wavy leaves. It is not thorny or prickly. The aggregate flower heads contain yellow disk florets. It flowers from April till June. Because Warionia is deviant in many respects from any other Asteraceae, different scholars have placed it hesitantly in the Cardueae, Gundelieae, Mutisieae, but now genetic analysis positions it as the sister group to all other Cichorieae.

<i>Pallenis spinosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Pallenis spinosa, commonly known as spiny starwort or spiny golden star, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Pallenis of the family Asteraceae. The Latin name of the genus is derived from palea (chaff), referring to the chaffy receptacle, while the species name spinosa, meaning spiny, refers to the spiny bracts surrounding the flowers.

<i>Oncosiphon suffruticosus</i> Species of plant

Onocosiphon suffruticosus, commonly known as the shrubby mayweed, is a flowering plant native to Namibia and the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. Additionally, it can now be found in France, Australia, and the USA.

Parodontax is a brand name of toothpaste and mouthwash currently owned by Haleon, previously GSK.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Chamomile". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  3. Fitter R, Fitter A, Blamey M. 1989. The wild flowers of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins
  4. Stace, Clive 1991. The New Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press
  5. 1 2 3 4 Singh, Ompal; Khanam, Zakia; Misra, Neelam; et al. (2011). "Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.): An overview". Pharmacognosy Reviews. 5 (9): 82–95. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.79103 . ISSN   0973-7847. PMC   3210003 . PMID   22096322.
  6. χαμαίμηλον, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  7. χαμαί, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  8. μήλον, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  9. 1 2 "Roman chamomile". MedlinePlus, US National Institutes of Health. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Freistaat Thüringen (2014). "Anbautelegram Echte Kamille (Matricaria chamomilla L.)". Anbautelegram.
  11. 1 2 3 Franke, R.; Hannig, H.-J. (2012). Hoppe, B. (ed.). Handbuch des Arnzei- und Gewürzpflanzenanbaus – Band 4 Arznei- und Gewürzpflanzen A-K. Verein für Arznei- und Gewürzpflanzen SALUPLANTA e.V. Bernburg. pp. 618–648. ISBN   978-3-935971-62-1.
  12. El Mihyaoui, Amina; Esteves da Silva, Joaquim C. G.; Charfi, Saoulajan; et al. (25 March 2022). "Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.): A Review of Ethnomedicinal Use, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Uses". Life. 12 (4): 479. Bibcode:2022Life...12..479E. doi: 10.3390/life12040479 . ISSN   2075-1729. PMC   9032859 . PMID   35454969.
  13. McKay DL, Blumberg JB (2006). "A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.)". Phytotherapy Research. 20 (7): 519–530. doi:10.1002/ptr.1900. PMID   16628544. S2CID   21041569.
  14. "Heil- und Gewürzpflanzen. Anbau, Ernte und Aufbereitung". Österreichischer Argrarverlag. 1989.