Today, chamomile is promoted for sleeplessness, anxiety, and gastrointestinal conditions such as upset stomach, gas, and diarrhea. It is also used topically for skin conditions and for mouth sores resulting from cancer treatment. (1)
Aflatoxin (AFB) is a poisonous mold that can grow on some foods and animal feed. It can make rabbits sick. Mahmoud Gamal Rashad and colleagues investigated if chamomile could improve rabbits' health and protect their livers from damage caused by AFB. In the study, rabbits were divided into four groups: 1. Chamomile group (chamomile): Given chamomile daily, 2. Mold group (AF): Given AFB daily, 3. Chamomile + Mold group (AFLCha): Given both chamomile and AFB daily, and 4. Regular group (CON): Not given chamomile or AFB. They found: Rabbits with AFB grew slower and had smaller bodies compared to those with chamomile or both. Chamomile and the chamomile + AFB groups had healthier livers and kidneys than the AFB group alone. Chamomile and the chamomile + AFB groups had stronger defenses against cell damage than the AFB group alone. The AFB group had more cell damage and weaker defenses than the chamomile and regular groups. In short, this study suggests that chamomile might help protect rabbits from the harmful effects of AFB on their livers. (2)
Gastric Cancer is a prevalent malignancy worldwide. While, apigenin (Api), a natural flavonoid found in chamomile tea and some other plant-products. Api may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiproliferative properties. With respect to gastric cancer, studies have systematically examined Api’s effects on cancer cells, focusing on cell proliferation, apoptosis, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, and molecular targets. The literature suggests that Api inhibits cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner Mechanistically, Api acts through the Akt/Bad/Bcl2/Bax axis, activating the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and thereby restricting cell proliferation. Though it seems that the anti-proliferative potential of Api on gastric cancer cells is particularly relevant in a more aggressive gastric cancer phenotype but can also affect normal gastric cells. (3)
Farshid Bahrami and colleagues conducted a parallel-group randomized controlled design of 3 groups - the damask rose group (n = 30), the chamomile group (n = 30), and the control group (n = 30). In the damask rose and chamomile groups, three drops of 40% essential of each plant were used for inhalation aromatherapy (three drops every hour for 3 hours) The subjects are emergency orthopedic surgery patients. They found that both of the intervention groups experienced a decrease in pain and anxiety over time compared to the control group. (4)
REFERENCE
1. Chamomile, Health Information, NIH website, May 04, 2024.
2. Mahmoud Gamal Rashad et al, Dietary chamomile flowers extract improved performance and mitigated aflatoxin B1 toxicity in rabbits, J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2024 Apr 30.
3. Ana Pratas et al, Effects of apigenin on gastric cancer cells, Biomed Pharmacother. 2024 Mar:172:116251.
4. Farshid Bahrami et al, Comparison of the Effects of Aromatherapy With Damask Rose and Chamomile Essential Oil on Preoperative Pain and Anxiety in Emergency Orthopedic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial, J Perianesth Nurs. 2024 Feb 1:S1089-9472(23)01031-6.