Matricaria recutita (flower)

Introduction

Introduction from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricaria_chamomilla, retrieved 02/27/2012).

Matricaria chamomilla or German chamomile, also spelled camomile, is an annual plant of the composite family Asteraceae.

Matricaria chamomilla can be found near populated areas all over Europe and temperate Asia, and it has been widely introduced in temperate North America and Australia. It often grows near roads, around landfills, and in cultivated fields as a weed because the seeds require open soil to survive.

The word chamomile comes from the Greek χαμαίμηλον (chamaimēlon) meaning "earth-apple", which is derived from χαμαί (chamai) meaning "on the ground" and μήλον (mēlon) meaning "apple". It is so called because of the apple-like scent of the plant.

Matricaria chamomilla has a branched stem which is erect and smooth, and which grows to a height of 15–60 cm. The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate.

The flowers are borne in paniculate capitula. The white ray florets are furnished with a ligule, while the disc florets are yellow. The hollow receptacle is swollen and lacks scales. This property distinguishes German Chamomile from, Corn Chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), which has a receptacle with scales. The flowers bloom in early to mid summer and have a strong aromatic smell.

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Macroscopic Entries

Chamomile, Whole FlowersFlowers yellow, white, and some green; receptacle conical, hollow when cut longitudinally; phyllaries with pale dry margins.  Scent Fragrant, aromatic, pleasant.  Flavor Slightly bitter, sweet, aromatic. Source: Steven Yeager, Mountain Rose Herbs

Microscopic Entries

Chamomile (flowering parts) (Matricaria chamomilla) L., Compositae.Epidermal cells with sinuate vertical walls; abundant collapsed parenchyma tissue; very porous tracheid-like cells. No starch. The pollen grains with prominent conical projections and three pores form the most marked microscopial characteristic of the powder. The glandular trichromes are usually so much collapsed as to be unrecognizable. Source: Schneider, A. (1921) The Microanalysis of Powdered Vegetable Drugs, 2nd ed.

Chamomile papillose stigma, style and pollen grain, glycerine : deionized water, 200xepidermis has irregularly sinuous walls, often with palisade parenchmya, stomata deeply sunken surrounded by 6-8 subsidiary cells, various sizes of calcium oxalate cluster crystals abundant Source: Amy Brush, Traditional Medicinals

HPTLC Entries

Matricaria recutita HPTLC ID - Anisaldehyde reagent, UV 366 nm Chamomile (flower) (Matricaria recutita) Lane Assignments Lanes, from left to right (Track, Volume, Sample): 1 µL Feverfew flower from Mexico 2 µL Feverfew flower from Mexico 4 µL Feverfew flower from Mexico 3 µL Feverfew flower 3.5 µL Feverfew flower 4 µL Feverfew flower 2 µL Parthenolide 2 µL Apigenin 1 µL Roman Chamomile flower 2 µL Roman Chamomile flower 4 µL Roman Chamomile flower 1 µL Chamomile flower 2 µL Chamomile flower 4 µL Chamomile flower 1 µL Chamomile flower oil  Reference Sample(s) Reference: Dissolve 1.5 mg of apigenin in 5 mL of methanol. Dissolve 1 mg of parthenolide in 5 mL of methanol.  Stationary Phase Stationary phase, i.e. Silica gel 60, F254  Mobile Phase Ethyl acetate, cyclohexane 1:1 (v/v)  Sample Preparation Method Sample: Mix 1 g of powdered sample with 10 mL of methanol and sonicate for 10 minutes, then centrifuge or filter the solutions and use the supernatants / filtrates as test solutions. Dissolve 10 µL of the essential oil in 1 mL of toluene. Derivatization reagent: Anisaldehyde reagent; Preparation: 170 mL of ice-cooled methanol are mixed with 20 mL of acetic acid, 10 mL of sulfuric acid and 1 mL of anisaldehyde; Use: Dip (time 0, speed 5), heat at 100°C for 4 min.  Detection Method Saturated chamber; developing distance 70 mm from lower edge; relative humidity 33%  Other Notes Images presented in this entry are examples and are not intended to be used as basis for setting specifications for quality control purposes. System suitability test (UV 366 nm): Apigenin: blue zone at Rf ~ 0.20; Parthenolide: pink zone at Rf ~ 0.48 Identification: Compare result with reference images. The fingerprint of the test solution is similar to that of the corresponding botanical reference sample. Additional weak zones may be present. Under UV 366 nm the chromatogram of the test solution shows a dark blue zone at Rf ~ 0.46 (blue arrow; not visible under white light) a brown zone between Rf ~ 0.30 and 0.40 and another weak blue zone at Rf ~ 0.30. At the position of apigenin reference substance (Rf ~ 0.20) two brown zones are present (violet under white light). Test for adulteration: Under UV 366 nm no pink zone (violet zone under white RT) at Rf ~ 0.48 corresponding to reference substance parthenolide is seen and there are no brown zones at the position of apigenin at Rf ~ 0.20 (green arrows, Feverfew flower). Under UV 366 nm there are no intense red zones (violet zones under white RT) between Rf ~ 0.20 and 0.30. No blue zone is seen at the position of parthenolide (orange arrows; Feverfew flower from Mexico). Under UV 366 nm no blue zone at the position of apigenin (Rf ~ 0.20) and no orange zone at Rf ~ 0.70 (purple under white light) is seen (yellow arrows; Roman Chamomile flower). Chamomile flower oil does not show any zones below Rf ~ 0.60. Matricaria recutita HPTLC ID - Anisaldehyde reagent, UV 366 nm Matricaria recutita HPTLC ID - Anisaldehyde reagent, white RT Source: HPTLC Association