chamomile

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• German chamomile
• German mayweed
• fragrant chamomile
• scented chamomile
• scented mayweed
• sweet-false chamomile
• wild chamomile
• Hungarian chamomile
• blue chamomile
• chamomile
• common chamomile
• matricaria
• sweet false chamomile
• true chamomile
• Annual Chamomile
• false chamomile

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Leucanthemum chamaemelum
• Chamomilla unilateralis
• Matricaria suaveolens f. macrocephala
• Matricaria recutita var. pappulosa
• Matricaria chamomilla subsp. pusilla
• Chamomilla meridionalis
• Matricaria tenuifolia f. nikolicii
• Matricaria chamomilla var. tenuis
• Matricaria chamomilla var. pappulosa
• Matricaria pusilla
• Matricaria coronata
• Matricaria bayeri
• Matricaria courrantiana
• Matricaria littoralis
• Matricaria exigua
• Matricaria obliqua
• Matricaria pyrethroides
• Matricaria tenuifolia
• Chamomilla recutita var. bayeri
• Matricaria chamomilla f. courrantiana
• Matricaria chamomilla var. recutita
• Matricaria recutita var. kochiana
• Matricaria recutita f. kochiana
• Matricaria capitellata
• Matricaria recutita var. coronata
• Matricaria chamomilla var. coronata
• Matricaria chamomilla var. pusilla
• Chamomilla recutita
• Matricaria chamomilla var. suaveolens
• Chrysanthemum chamomilla
• Chamaemelum chamomilla
• Chamomilla officinalis
• Matricaria chamomilla f. suaveolens
• Matricaria chamomilla f. kochiana
• Matricaria chamomilla subsp. courrantiana
• Matricaria chamomilla var. courrantiana
• Chamomilla courrantiana
• Chamomilla vulgaris
• Matricaria recutita
• Matricaria kochiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Matricaria chamomilla, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Asterales. Finally, it is classified under the family Asteraceae and the genus Matricaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Matricaria chamomilla, maintains a significant presence across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally within the landscapes of Denmark. Its distribution also extends to the northern territories of Finland. Furthermore, the species is commonly documented throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, it is a recognized part of the flora in Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Matricaria chamomilla is characterized by its significant adaptability to diverse landscapes and a broad vertical distribution across varying altitudes. This species thrives in highly disturbed environments, commonly colonizing anthropogenically influenced habitats such as crop fields, inhabited places, old fields, roadsides, and various ruderal sites. Its elevational range is extensive, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 3600 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1800 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal tolerance allows the plant to persist in a variety of climatic zones, provided the soil conditions align with its preference for open, disturbed ground.

Elevational range max:

3600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, inhabited places, old fields, roadsides, ruderal sites

Life history

The life history of Matricaria chamomilla is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it avoids the stresses of unfavorable environmental conditions by existing primarily in the form of seeds during non-growing periods, allowing it to emerge rapidly when conditions become suitable. This specific life form strategy ensures that the plant can quickly colonize open or disturbed habitats, utilizing its seasonal growth to maximize reproductive output before the onset of dormancy.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Matricaria chamomilla is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This terrestrial plant is independent in its nutritional requirements, functioning neither as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. It exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, though it does not require external structures for support. The shoot orientation is primarily ascending, and the plant reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.235 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.235 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Matricaria chamomilla is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. Its vegetative structure is defined by an alternate leaf arrangement, featuring leaves with a linear form. The dimensions of the foliage vary, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, maintaining a mean length of 3.5 cm. The leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1.5 cm and a maximum of 2 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 3.34 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 385.5 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological approach to resource acquisition and light interception.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

3.34 cm²

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

385.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Matricaria chamomilla is characterized by sexual processes through bisexual flowers, as asexual reproduction is absent in this species. The flowering period typically begins in May and extends through September, featuring white flowers that vary in width from 1.2 cm to 2.5 cm. Pollination is achieved through biotic means, specifically via an insect pollination syndrome. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, the reproductive cycle culminates in the development of green, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are quite small, with a mean length of 0.45 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.08 cm to a maximum of 0.1 cm) and a consistent mean width of 0.3 cm. The resulting seeds are lightweight, with a mean mass of 5.18e-05 g (ranging from 4e-05 g to 4.72e-05 g), which facilitates an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, allowing the seeds to be spread by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower width max:

2.5 cm

Flower width min:

1.2 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit colour :

green

Fruit length max:

0.1 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.45 cm

Fruit length min:

0.08 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

4.72e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

5.18e-05 g

Seed mass min:

4e-05 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Matricaria chamomilla has 3 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, root, stem.

Flower

1. Biochemical pharmacology
2. Biomolecules
3. Vrachebnoe delo
4. Talanta
5. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Root

1. Food chemistry

Stem

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Chemicals

Matricaria chamomilla has 216 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include apigenin, Flavonoids, Chamazulene, luteolin, CD.

apigenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Electrophoresis
3. Biochemical pharmacology
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Bollettino chimico farmaceutico
3. Heliyon
4. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of hazardous materials

Chamazulene

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
3. Journal of the American College of Nutrition
4. Plant molecular biology
5. BMC plant biology

luteolin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Electrophoresis
3. Talanta
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Die Pharmazie

CD

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Ceskoslovenska farmacie
3. Journal of AOAC International
4. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Environmental science and pollution research international

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food chemistry
3. Electrophoresis
4. Nutritional neuroscience
5. Journal of plant physiology

PB

1. Ceskoslovenska farmacie
2. Journal of AOAC International
3. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Environmental science and pollution research international
5. Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Electrophoresis
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Journal of hazardous materials

Terpenoids

1. BMC genomics
2. Genomics
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of the American Nutrition Association

Umbelliferone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food chemistry
3. Chemistry Central journal
4. Journal of plant physiology

Activities

Matricaria chamomilla has 561 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Sedative, Analgesic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Dentistry journal
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. EXCLI journal
5. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Antimicrobial

1. Dentistry journal
2. EXCLI journal
3. Complementary therapies in clinical practice
4. Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Frontiers in microbiology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. Drug design, development and therapy
5. Scientific reports

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. EXCLI journal
3. Biochemical pharmacology
4. Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
5. Planta medica

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
3. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Planta

Spasmolytic

1. Biochemical pharmacology
2. BMC plant biology
3. Planta medica
4. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Planta

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Planta

Anxiolytic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Matricaria chamomilla has 91 reported investigations on conditions identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, anxiety, pain, asthma.

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung
2. International journal of biological macromolecules
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association
5. Gaceta medica de Mexico

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceutics
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. Holistic nursing practice
5. Pharmaceutical biology

Anxiety

1. Revista gaucha de enfermagem
2. Pharmacological research
3. Recent patents on biotechnology
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Pain

1. Complementary therapies in clinical practice
2. Heliyon
3. European journal of medical research
4. International journal of biological macromolecules

Asthma

1. Heliyon
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
3. Biotechnology letters

Insomnia

1. Environmental science and pollution research international
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Complementary therapies in medicine

Ulcerative colitis

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
2. Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Covid-19

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)

Common cold

1. PloS one
2. International journal of environmental research and public health

Cough

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Matricaria chamomilla has 49 reported preparations identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, essential oils, ethanolic extracts, extract, flowers.

Extracts

1. Electrophoresis
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Arzneimittel-Forschung
5. Acta odontologica latinoamericana : AOL

Essential oils

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of conservative dentistry : JCD
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic extracts

1. RSC advances
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Extract

1. Rivista di neurologia
2. Natural product research

Flowers

1. Biological trace element research
2. Cadernos de saude publica

Methanolic extract

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

80% ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Climex

1. Clinical and experimental obstetrics & gynecology

Dried flowers

1. Biochemical pharmacology

Eo

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine