Pharmacopeia researches and antimicrobial activity studies on matricaria chamomilla l. (chamomile)

Matricaria chamomilla is a widely used plant in phytotherapy. There are many plants known as chamomile. Amongst public they are commonly mistaken as Matricaria chamomilla. Matricariae flos drug is the one that should be used for medical purposes. In this study we used M. chamomilla capitulum samples collected from 3 different regions in Istanbul, 2 Matricariae flos drugs that supplied from pharmacies in Istanbul and chamomile samples taken from 5 different herbalists in Istanbul. These samples were examined according to Matricariae flos monograph analysis in Turkish Pharmacopeia-European Pharmacopeia Adoption (2016). Macroscopic and microscopic examination, total ash and loss on drying, extraction of essential oil and thin layer chromatography were performed. In addition, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of all samples were compared by thin layer chromatography. Antimicrobial activity was determined by microdilution method in aqueous and ethanolic extracts. According to the pharmacopeia analysis; in macroscopic and microscopic examinations, all samples except for 2 herbalist samples were found to suitable for the pharmacopeia standards. In loss on drying, none of the samples were found to suitable for the pharmacopeia standards except for 2 herbalist samples. In total ash, all samples were suitable for pharmacopeia standards. While the essential oil of M. chamomilla samples collected from nature was yellow-orange colored, we obtained the blue essential oil containing chamazulene from pharmacy samples and 3 of herbalist samples. The best activity in antimicrobial activity assay was observed in ethanol extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacterial strains and Candida tropicalis fungal strain.