Chamomillae flowers as a valuable resource in the new trends of neurological disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Matricaria chamomilla L. is a well-known and a long used medicinal plant. The rational phytotherapy trends impose strict control of the plant material used to treat ailments. Therefore, the source and the quality of the raw material is highly important for obtaining a herbal medicinal product with certain biologic activity. Our aim was to obtain, standardize (TLC, UPLC) and biologically evaluate a hydro-alcoholic extract from chamomile flowers (ethanol 50 %; 2.5 g/100 mL) of known origin.

Materials and Methods: The phytochemical analysis used thin layer chromatography (TLC) and liquid chromatography techniques (UPLC). Since most of the pharmacological properties of chamomile extracts are known, we used several in vitro (Folin –Ciocalteu assays, scavenging capacity against DPPH and ABTS radical) and in vivo (radial plus maze, forced swimming, Y test) tests to assess its potential in neurological disorders such as Parkinson and Alzheimer. The animal model was induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of scopolamine and all surgical procedures were conducted under aseptic conditions with sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, to minimize animal suffering and to reduce the number of animal used (white, Wistar male rats, b.w 200±50g). The animal’s behavioral activities within pharmacological tests were statistically analyzed with two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). All results are expressed as mean ± standard error of mean (S.E.M.).

Results: TLC and UPLC confirmed the presence of luteolin and apigenin glycosides, as well as caffeic and chlorogenic acids. Apigenin-7-glucoside amounted up to 0.42%, higher than the European Pharmacopoeial limit (minimum 0.25%). Total polyphenol content of the extract was 68.70 ± 2.55 mg GAE/g. The investigated extract had a good scavenging activity both against DPPH radical (IC50 = 47,8 ± 1,4 μg/mL) and ABTS cation (IC50 = 21,4 ± 0,2 μg/mL), comparable with the IC50 values of the chosen standard (caffeic acid). The scopolamine-treated rats exhibited disorientation, a decreased exploratory activity, a low percentage of the time spent and number of entries in the open arm within elevated plus-maze test and a decreased swimming time and increased immobility time within forced swimming test. Intraperitoneal administration of chamomile extract in doses of 25 mg/kg b.w. or 75 mg/kg b.w. significantly induced anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. Moreover, short memory was improved considerably as compared to the positive control group.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that the chamomile extract rich in polyphenols, especially apigenin-7-glucoside ameliorates scopolamine-induced anxiety and depression in laboratory rats. Thus, the results of the present study indicate that a standardized chamomile medicinal product may have clinical applications in the management of anxiety, depression and memory impairment related to dementia.