April 2003
Chamomile Blue
Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria chamomilla L.
Nadim A. Shaath, Ph.D. and Mona Shaath
Alpha Research and Development Ltd.
Chamomile is among the most widely known medicinal plants. The pharmacological and therapeutic significance of Chamomile and Chamomile extracts is known universally, both used in popular medicine and medicinal therapy. Chamomile extracts used in cosmetics serve as prophylactic agents in the treatment of dry, easily inflamed skin and of skin that cracks easily and shows signs of seborrhea. Chamomile creams are successful agents for the care of skin, especially in cold weather. Chamomile preparations for the care of the scalp are used in hair lotions and shampoos, particularly for the care of blond hair.
Egypt, being a primary source of Chamomile flower, exports close to a million pounds of whole flowers, pollen and ground Chamomile. Five kilograms of fresh flowers give 1 kg of dried flowers. Europe has historically been interested in this precious product in tea bag preparations.
Blue Chamomile is an annual plant possessing a branching stem, 1-2 feet high, with green, smooth leaves. Flower heads end the stems and branches. The oil improves with aging. Steam distillation Chamomile is, when fresh, a “deep ink-blue, somewhat viscous liquid of intense sweet, herbaceous-coumarin-like odor with a fresh-fruity undertone.”
The most important constituent of Chamomile Blue is Chamazulene, an azulene named in such in order to differentiate it from azulenes found in other essential oils. Azulenes are blue to violet sometimes even green compounds of varied structures with the parent base being a bicyclic hydrocarbon. The carbon skeleton of this hydocarbon is a completely conjugated five membered ring attached to a seven membered ring. This highly conjugated system is responsible for the strong absorption of light. Azulenes are found in many essential oils and are the constituents
which give the distinct color to the oil. The Chamomile plant does not appear to contain the azulene in the free form but as a derivative or precursor form. This derivative is colorless or yellowish and decomposes to the free form of the azulene upon physical or chemical treatments such as heating, dehydration, dehydrogenation or treatment with acids. Therefore it would appear that chamazulene is formed in the steam distillation process of Chamomile oil.
An analysis on samples of Egyptian Chamomile Blue was performed and the chemical compositions were identified using a variety of analytical techniques including GC/MS and dual capillary GLC. Identification of the volatile portion of Chamomile blue is given on Table I.
Table I: Analysis of Egyptian Chamomile Blue Oil
Chemical Constituent% Area
Ethyl-2-methyl butyrate0.15
Propyl-2-methyl butyrate0.08
para-Cymene0.09
Limonene 0.13
trans-beta-Ocimene0.32
Methallyl angelate0.46
gamma-Terpinene0.20
Nonanal 0.11
Capric acid1.30
trans-beta-farnesene 25.68
Germacrene D1.63
gamma- Cadinene0.21
delta-Cadinene 0.45
alpha-Bisabolol B4.44
alpha-Bisabololoxide +6.55
alpha-Bisabolol
Chamazulene3.43
alpha-Bisabolol oxide A 38.65
Aliphatic Hydrocarbon0.72
SUMMARY
Latin:
Anthemis nobilis
Family:
Composite
Description:
Derived from a Greek word meaning ‘ground’apple, Chamomile is one of the most gentle essential oils. Grown wild in the Mediterranean. It was used to cure malaria by the ancient Egyptians who dedicated it to the sun god RA. It is renowned for its calming ability.
Extraction:
Steam distillation of flowers
Note Scale:
Middle
Key Uses:
Muscle/Nerve Pain, Allergies
Indications:
Allergies, Anemia, Arthritis, Asthma, Colic, Cuts, Diarrhea, Earache, Flatulence, Flu, Headaches,Indigestion, Insomnia, Irritability, Menopause, Stress, Vaginitis
Safety Information:
Possible dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Properties:
Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-spasmodic, Anti-bacterial, Hepatic, Sedative, Tonic, Digestive, Anti-parasitic, Calmative
Main Chemical Constituents:
Angelic, trans beta farnesene, alpha bisabolul, and tiglic acid