Preparation of standardized extracts from flowers of Matricaria recutita L. (German Chamomile) plant and development of phytopharmaceutical products

Matricaria recutita L. plant is from the Asteraceae family, and is called German chamomile, may chamomile, and medicinal chamomile in our country. In our country, it grows under natural conditions in Marmara, Aegean, Thrace and Southwestern Anatolia, and is found abundantly on roadsides and empty fields. Additionally, it is cultivated in the Marmara and Aegean regions. The flower parts of Matricaria recutita have various biological effects, especially anti-inflammatory. Phytopharmaceutical products containing the Matricaria recutita plant are almost non-existent in our country, and are presented to consumers without quality control analyzes of the extracts contained in the existing products. For this reason, it is of great importance to utilize the flowers of the plant in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, to bring them into the country's economy and to turn them into products. In this study, it is aimed to prepare standardized Matricaria recutita extracts according to the European Medicines Agency monograph, and its use as an active ingredient, to determine the apigenin-7-O-glucoside contents of the extracts by HPLC method, and to validate the developed method, and to formulate reliable, effective and high-quality phytopharmaceutical products using these extracts. The medicinal effects of Matricaria recutita are related to the phenolic compounds it contains. Apigenin is the main flavonoid compound found in Matricaria recutita While a significant amount of this compound exists in glucoside form, only a small amount is freely available. Therefore, apigenin-7-O-glucoside compound is considered a useful and suitable marker for Matricaria recutita flower extracts. Using 14 different solvent systems included in the European Medicines Agency monograph, extracts were prepared with the flower parts of Matricaria recutita grown in Bandırma/Balıkesir region, and the apigenin-7-O-glucoside contents of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC method. The indication, administration route and apigenin-7-O-glucoside contents of the prepared liquid and solid extracts were evaluated, and analytical method validations were carried out on these extracts by selecting G, M, N extracts. In addition, the stabilities of G, M, N extracts under different temperatures were followed, and it was observed that apigenin-7-O-glucoside content decreased with increasing temperature. The developed and validated HPLC method is envisaged to be used in the quality control of Matricaria recutita extracts. The following year, G, M, N extracts were prepared from the flower parts of Matricaria recutita grown in Bandırma/Balıkesir and Arnavutköy/İstanbul regions. Apigenin-7-O-glucoside contents, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, and phytochemical contents of G, M, N extracts prepared from plants collected from two regions were analyzed. In addition, apigenin-7-O-glucoside contents, essential oil amount and components of the plant materials were analysed. Since apigenin-7-O-glucoside, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of the extract prepared from the plant grown in Arnavutköy/İstanbul region were higher, two different topical products were formulated using M and N extracts prepared from the plant collected from this region. G extract has a direct administration route. Topical products were formulated to have apigenin-7-O-glucoside contents equivalent to commercially available reference products, and their in vitro release and physicochemical profiles were compared with reference products. At the end of the 6th hour, topical products showed slightly faster in vitro release than reference products, but they had almost similar in vitro release and physicochemical profiles. The stability of topical products under different temperatures was monitored. In addition, the cell viability profile and apoptotic effect of M extracts and topical cream containing M extract (M1) were evaluated on fibroblast (CCD-1079Sk) and melanoma (SK-MEL-28) cell cultures. As a result, considering the in vitro release and physicochemical properties of topical formulations, these products are presented as effective, reliable and high-quality phytopharmaceutical products. Key Words: Matricaria recutita L., apigenin-7-O-glucoside, topical product, method validation, medicinal chamomile