fungicidal activities, particularly against
Gram-positive bacteria (e.g.,Staphylococcus
aureus)andCandida albicans.Italsore-
duced blood urea concentration in rabbits to
a normal level.27,28
Umbelliferone has fungistatic properties.^25
Chamazulene, a major component of the
oil, has shown pain-relieving, wound-healing,
antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-
microbial properties; a-bisabolol, another
constituent of the oil, has shown anti-inflam-
matory, antiedemic, antimicrobial, and
in vitroantipeptic activities; the cyclic spiro
ethers (e.g., cis/trans-en-yn-dicyloethers)
have shown antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory,
antianaphylactic, and antispasmodic activities
(JIANGSU;LIST AND HO ̈RHAMMER;MARTINDALE;
MCKENNA).15,29–33 Anti-inflammatory and
spasmolytic activities are also attributed to
apigenin that also exhibits growth-inhibitory
activity against human cancer lines, including
breast and prostate tumor cell lines and mela-
noma cells and cancer chemopreventive
activity against chemical- and ultraviolet
B-induced skin tumors in mice. Apigenin and
()-a-bisabolol exhibitedin vitroantispas-
modic activity in smooth muscles, and api-
genin has shown anxiolytic activity in rats.
Both the essential oil and en-yn-dicycloether
inhibited histamine release from rat mast cells
(MCKENNA;WICHTL).In vitrohistamine release
from rat mast cells is moderately stimulated
by en-yn-dicyclother at low concentrations
and strongly inhibited at higher concentra-
tions. Chamazulene and ()-a-bisabolol
showed little effect at the lower concentrations
and stimulated histamine release at the higher
concentrations.^34 Whereas ()-a-bisabolol
is the most active antispasmodic constituent
of the essential oil,^2 topical anti-inflammatory
(antiphlogistic) activity of chamomile is
largely attributed to apigenin, followed by
matricin, ()-a-bisabolol, and chamazulene.
Teas contain little or no apigenin and an
extract prepared from the fresh flowers was
devoid of apigenin. Matricin is preserved in
alcoholic tinctures.^23
A double-blind clinical trial of standard-
ized extract of German chamomile applied in
dressings to dermabrasion wounds following
tattoo removal found more rapid would heal-
ing compared to placebo.^35 In a randomized
placebo-controlled trial, patients with the
common cold who inhaled the steam from hot
water to which an extract of German chamo-
mile was added experienced greater relief of
upper and middle respiratory tract symptoms
compared to those treated with a placebo
inhalant.^36 In a placebo-controlled double-
blind study, an extract of German chamomile
combined with an extract ofAngelica sinensis
was found to significantly reduce hot flashes
in postmenopausal women compared to
placebo.^37
Three germacranolide sesquiterpene lac-
tones (nobilin, 1,10-epoxynobilin, and 3-dehy-
dronobilin) isolated from Roman chamomile
are reported to exhibit antitumor activitiesin
vitroagainst human tumor cells.^17 Chamae-
meloside has shown hypoglycemic activity in
animals.^38 Topical application of an extract of
the dried flowers is reported to be preventative
against sunburn and to facilitate more rapid
healing of sunburned skin (WICHTL).TOXICOLOGYAllergic contact dermatitis to German (rare)
or Roman chamomile may occur in people
sensitized to certain sesquiterpene lactones or
who are already allergic to ragweed (BRADLY;
FUGH-BERMAN; MCKENNA; WICHTL).^39 Allergic
conjunctivitis of the eyelids was reported
in sensitive patients who applied chamomile
tea as an eyewash.^40 Anaphylaxis attributed
to chamomile has been shown to be
almost certainly due toAnthemis cotulaL.
(dog or stinking chamomile).^41 German
KamillosanÒ, a total extract of the bisabolol
chemotype, has been shown to possess a low
sensitizing capacity while the bisabolol oxide
B chemotype ofM.recutitahas an evident
moderate allergenic potential. Allergenicity
is apparently due to low variable levels of
the highly allergenic sequiterpene lactone
anthecotulid, dominant inA.cotula.^42 British
KamillosanÒ, an ointment containing RomanChamomile (german and roman) 171