Matricaria recutita
What's the taxonomical classification of Matricaria recutita?
Matricaria recutiita belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is categorized under the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, this plant is further classified under the order Asterales. It is a member of the family Asteraceae, falling into the genus Matricaria, and is identified by its specific species name, recutiita.
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Genus | Matricaria |
| Species | recutita |
What are the morphological characteristics of this plant?
Matricaria recutiita has pinnately divided, feathery leaves that are deep green and composed of small, narrow segments. The plant typically grows to a height of 15 to 60 centimeters with slender, branching stems. Its most distinctive feature is the composite flower head, which consists of a central disc of yellow tubular florets surrounded by a ring of white ray florets. These flower heads are supported by long, thin peduncles that emerge from the leaf axils. The overall structure is delicate and herbaceous, characteristic of many members of the Asteraceae family.
What is the geographical distribution of this plant?
This plant is native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, though it has become widely naturalized across much of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. It is frequently found growing in disturbed soils, roadsides, and agricultural fields throughout North America. Its ability to thrive in diverse climates has allowed it to spread into various regions of Australia and other parts of the world. The species favors open, sunny habitats where it can easily colonize disturbed ground. Because of its resilient nature, it is often distributed globally via human activity and international trade.
How is this plant cultivated?
This plant, commonly known as chamomile, requires well-drained soil, full sun exposure, and consistent moisture to thrive during its growing season.
Seeds should be sown directly into the garden bed because the delicate root systems do not tolerate transplanting well. It flourishes best in temperate climates where temperatures remain moderate and the soil maintains a neutral pH level. Regular weeding and thinning are necessary to ensure each individual plant has enough space to reach its full flowering potential.
Once the blossoms appear, they can be harvested frequently to encourage continuous production throughout the summer.
What parts of this plant are used medicinally?
This plant, Matricaria recutita, is primarily used medicinally for its dried flower heads, which contain the most concentrated essential oils and bioactive compounds. Within these flowers, the tiny disk florets are especially valued for their therapeutic properties in soothing digestive and inflammatory issues. While the petals are prominent, the entire inflorescence is typically harvested to ensure maximum potency for teas and tinctures. Other parts like the leaves, stems, and roots are generally not used in standard herbal preparations because they lack the same medicinal strength found in the blooms. Therefore, most traditional applications focus exclusively on the floral component of the herb.
According to a study published by "BMC genomics", the essential oils in Matricaria recutita are present in the flowers. The terpenoid content in the flowers of Matricaria recutita is greater than that of Roman chamomile. A comparative RNA-seq analysis showed that 54% of genes shared > 75% sequence identity between the two species. The research determined the content of essential oils in disk florets and ray florets. The study provides insights into the terpenoid biosynthesis of Matricaria recutita.
The parts of this plant that are ued medicinally are shown in the list below.
- disk florets
- flower
- leaf
- roots
- stem
What traditional systems uses this plant?
This plant, known as chamomile, has been utilized for centuries within Traditional European Medicine to treat digestive ailments, skin inflammations, and anxiety. Ancient Greek and Roman physicians documented its soothing properties for calming the nervous system and reducing gastric distress. In various folk traditions, infusions made from the dried flower heads were commonly used as gentle sedatives to promote sleep. Herbalists also applied topical preparations to soothe minor burns and skin irritations due to its anti-inflammatory characteristics. These long-standing historical practices laid the groundwork for its contemporary reputation as a versatile medicinal herb.
According to a study published by "Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology", researchers screened 14 books on Traditional European Medicine to compile a list of 78 plants recommended for treating oral mucositis. Through this research strategy, the study extrapolated 4 plants that possess good evidence for alleviating symptoms of oral mucositis and gingivitis. One of these plants with good evidence for treating oral mucositis is Matricaria recutita L. The study highlights that while clinical trials investigating medical plants known in TEM are rare, there is good evidence for using Matricaria recutita L. for treating these conditions.
The hystorical systems that uses this plant are shown in the list below.
- Traditional European Medicine
What are the pharmacological activities of Matricaria recutita?
This plant has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antioxidant, analgesic, and sedative pharmacological activities. Its rich concentration of bioactive compounds allows it to effectively reduce swelling and stabilize allergic responses in the body. The presence of specific flavonoids provides significant antioxidant protection by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Furthermore, the plant acts as an analgesic to alleviate pain and serves as a mild sedative to promote relaxation and better sleep. These diverse therapeutic properties make it a widely utilized natural remedy in various medicinal applications.
According to a study published by "Archives of toxicology", Matricaria recutiita L. contains the main constituent Bisabololoxide A (BSBO), which is linked to anti-inflammatory, gastrointestinal, and antipruritic actions. When rat thymocytes were incubated with BSBO for 24 h, concentrations of 30 microM or more significantly increased populations of dead and shrunken cells. At these levels, BSBO also increased cells with phosphatidylserine exposed on the membrane surface and increased the population of cells containing hypodiploid DNA. Significant changes in cellular parameters were not observed when the concentration was 10 microM or less. Furthermore, a short incubation of 3 h with 30-100 microM BSBO did not significantly affect the cells.
The primary pharmacological activities of this plant are shown in the list below.
- anti-inflammatory
- anti-allergic
- anti-spasmodic
- antioxidant
- sedative
What medicinal compounds this plant contains?
This plant contains a diverse array of bioactive medicinal compounds including flavonoids, apiigenin, matricine, alpha-bisabolol, and chamazulene. The presence of various flavonoids provides the plant with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Within the essential oil fraction, chamazulene is responsible for the characteristic deep blue color and soothing effects. Additionally, alpha-bisabolol contributes to the herb's ability to reduce skin irritation and promote healing. These chemical constituents work together to make the plant a powerful natural remedy for digestive and topical ailments.
According to a study published by "Planta medica", the dried flower heads of Matricaria recutita L. (Asteraceae) are used to prepare a spasmolytic and sedative tea. Fractionation of the aqueous extract led to the isolation of 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone, also known as apiigenin. This apiigenin competitively inhibited the binding of flunitrazepam with a Ki of 4 microM. While apiigenin showed clear anxiolytic activity in mice at doses similar to classical benzodiazepines, a 10-fold increase in dosage produced a mild sedative effect. This increased dosage resulted in a 26% reduction in ambulatory locomotor activity and a 35% decrement in hole-board parameters.
The primary medicinal compounds of this plant are shown in the list below.
- Apigenin
- chamazulene
- α-bisabolol
- flavonoids
- chamazulene
What health conditions is this plant used for?
This plant is used for treating digestive problems, gastrointestinal disorders, infantile colic, inflammation, and pain. Its soothing properties help calm the stomach and relieve discomfort caused by various internal ailments. It is particularly effective at easing the intense cramping associated with infantile colic in babies. Additionally, the plant possesses anti-inflammatory qualities that can reduce swelling and localized irritation. These medicinal effects also make it a helpful remedy for managing general bodily pain.
According to a study published by "BMC complementary medicine and therapies", Matricaria recutiata was recorded as one of the most used plants among the 78 plants identified. This plant is specifically utilized for digestive problems. It achieved a high Fidelity Level (FL) of 85.55% for these digestive conditions. The study involved data collected from 543 people interviewed between May 2018 and May 2019.
The main health conditions this plant is used for are shown in the list below.
- digestive problems
- gastrogastrointestinal disorders
- inflammation
- pain
- spasms
What are the herbal preparations of this plant?
This plant is Matricaria recutita, a species used to create diverse medicinal forms including essential oil, infusions, chamomile cream, STW 5, and tinctures. The essential oil provides a concentrated aromatic essence often used in aromatherapy or diluted topical applications. An infusion involves steeping the dried flower heads in hot water to create a soothing tea for digestive or calming purposes. For skin irritations, chamomile cream offers a gentle topical remedy, while the standardized extract STW 5 provides a specific pharmaceutical grade for clinical use. Finally, tinctures use alcohol to extract potent bioactive compounds for long-term preservation and easy oral dosing.
According to a study published by "Plants (Basel, Switzerland)", Matricaria recutiita L. is an important medicinal plant where the flowers and flower heads are the main organs for essential oil production. To improve traits, three populations were irradiated with 100, 200, 300 and 400 Gray doses of gamma rays or treated with 0.001, 0.002 and 0.003 mol/mL of sodium azide for 4 h. From these treatments, 18 mutants were selected at the M3 generation, and 5 were further characterized in the M4 generation. The F/LF5-2-1 mutant showed a high oil content of 1.77% and 1595 flowers per plant. Additionally, the B/HNOF 8-4-2 mutant achieved a 1.29% oil content and a chamazulene percentage of 13.98%.
The main herbal preparations of this plant are shown in the list below.
- Essential oil
- Infusion
- Kamille cream
- STW 5
- Tinctures
What side effects this plant can have?
This plant can cause adverse reactions including anxiety, cramps, digestive system ailments, and potential respiratory risk. While often used as a mild sedative to promote sleep, some individuals may experience heightened nervousness or agitation instead. It can also trigger abdominal cramps and various digestive system ailments in sensitive users. Furthermore, there is a documented respiratory risk for those with specific allergies to the Asteraceae family. Careful monitoring is necessary to avoid these unexpected physiological responses.
According to a study published by "Chemistry & biodiversity", the roots of Matricaria recutita L. are used in complementary medicine to prepare aqueous fermented extracts for the treatment of cramps and anxiety. Fermentation of these roots contributes to the stabilization of antioxidant and radical scavenging activities, which were measured at approximately 8-10 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight and 20-24 mg trolox equivalents/g dry weight. During the first week of fermentation, the antibacterial activities of the extracts against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria increased. Importantly, the resulting fermentates were found to be neither cytotoxic nor pro- or anti-inflammatory. This makes the fermentation of Matricaria recutita roots a suitable method for the safe production of biofunctional aqueous extracts.
The main side effects this plant can have are shown in the list below.
- anxiety
- cramps
- digestive system ailments
- mild sedative
- respiratory risk
What herbs are paired with Matricaria recutita?
This plant pairs most effectively with lemon balm, peppermint, lavender, and chamomile to enhance its gentle sedative and digestive properties.
Combining matricaria recutita with lemon balm creates a potent blend for reducing anxiety and promoting restful sleep. Adding peppermint or fennel to a tea infusion can further soothe gastrointestinal discomfort and alleviate bloating. Lavender complements the delicate floral notes of the chamomile while adding a calming aromatic dimension to herbal tinctures.
Using these specific combinations allows for a synergistic effect that maximizes the therapeutic benefits of the botanical infusion.