An updated comprehensive review of the therapeutic properties of Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

Abstract

Neurological and cardiovascular illnesses, cancers, metabolic disorders, and microbial infections result in deaths of millions of people globally. Recent researches have intensely been directed at evaluating the therapeutic potential of herbal plants as alternative medicines. One such species is chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), from the Asteraceae family. It elicits protective properties against inflammation and oxidative stress, bacterial and fungal infections, cancers, ulcers, neuropathologies, etc. The present review focuses on various medical/ethnomedicinal uses of chamomile. Moreover, we emphasize on the therapeutic actions of constituents from chamomile, along with their underlying mechanism(s). Literature was systematically searched on electronic databases using keywords; “Matricaria chamomilla/chamomile” in combination with “medicinal,” and “therapeutic.” Our analyses of the retrieved articles indicate tremendous therapeutic potential of chamomile, and establish it as an alternative multimodal herbal medicine. The individual active constituents (e.g., geraniol, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, umbelliferone, rutin) were also found to elicit significant beneficial properties in various disorders. Collectively, chamomile and its bioactive seem to hold great promises as miraculous herbal drugs with multiple medical uses. In conclusion, based upon its beneficial antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, Matricaria chamomilla is strongly implicated in protection against skin photo-damage, aging, neuropathologies and cancers.