Matricaria chamomilla L., also known as chamomile, is used as an anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, analgesic,
sedative, and antiulcer, among others. In Mexico flowers and leaves are used to treat
different ailments. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of flower and leaf extracts from M. chamomilla.
Leaves and flowers were macerated and centrifuged (3000 rpm/20 min/4 °C), the supernatant
was called aqueous extract (AE). Flower (F) and Leaf (L) were extracted with acetone
and ethanol. The solvent extracts were evaporated to dryness using rotary flash evaporator.
Dry residues were dissolved in acetone (AE) or ethanol (EE) (1:10 w/v); extracts without
pigments were macerated and centrifuged (EWP). The antimicrobial activities of extracts
obtained were tested by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and the time-killing curve
method [1] against six bacterial pathogens. The AE presented antibacterial activity
against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, FAE MIC of 0.110 mg/mL and LAE MIC of 0.169 mg/mL. FAE was bactericidal
against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 27543, with Bacillus cereus (MIC 2 mg/mL), and against Shigella sonnei (MIC 0.5 mg/mL). LAE had an effect on S. aureus ATCC 27543 (MIC 2 mg/mL), B. cereus ATCC 14579 (MIC 4 mg/mL) and S. sonnei (MIC 0.5 mg/mL). The FEE was active against S. aureus ATCC 27543 and ATCC 25923 (MIC 2 mg/mL), B. cereus ATCC 14579, S. sonnei and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (MIC 4 mg/mL), Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644 (MIC 0.5 mg/mL). The FEE is bactericidal against P. aeruginosa 27853. The EWP did not exhibit antibacterial activity. This is the first report were
the flowers and leaf extracts antibacterial activity are analyzed simultaneously.
M. chamomilla flowers and leaves extracts exhibit antibacterial properties; the active compounds
are found in the acetonic and alcoholic extracts.
References:
[1] Courvalin, P., et al. Cinétique de l'activité bactéricide. In: Antibiogramme Paris:
ESKA 2006; 635
