Recent Research: Chamomile Health Benefits

Chamomile (German chamomile, Matricaria recutita, Chamomilla recutita) have two types: German chamomile and Roman chamomile. This fact sheet focuses on German chamomile. Chamomile was described in ancient medical writings and was an important medicinal herb in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. 

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.

Review: Linoleic Acid

Linoleic acid (LA) is an unsaturated n-6 fatty acid. It is a colorless liquid at room temperature. In physiological literature, it has a lipid number of 18:2(n-6). Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid used in the biosynthesis of arachidonic acid (AA) and thus some prostaglandins. It is found in the lipids of cell membranes. Thus, a lack of linoleic acid and other n-6 fatty acids in the diet causes dry hair, hair loss, and poor wound healing. However, linoleic acid is abundant in many foods, especially plant oils, thus, a deficiency in linoleic acid is almost impossible. [Wikipedia, 2011]

Epidemiological studies show that Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) dietary intake significantly lowers blood LDL-cholesterol levels. In addition, n-6 PUFA intake lower several cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, inflammatory markers, haemostatic parameters and obesity. [2] However, a study of 2069 men and women, linoleic acid intake was inversely associated with total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in women but not in men. Linoleic acid intake was not associated with the ratio of total to HDL-cholesterol. No association was observed between linoleic acid intake and CHD incidence. [1]

An international cross-sectional epidemiological study of 4680 men and women ages 40 to 59 suggests associations of linoleic acid intake of individuals with their blood pressure. Dietary linoleic acid intake may contribute to prevention and control of adverse blood pressure levels in general populations. [3]

Linoleic acid (LA) is know to induce proliferation and invasion in breast cancer cells. [4] Linoleic acid stimulated growth of the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines in culture. [5]Human MCF-7 breast cancer cells were incubated for 12 d in culture medium supplemented with various concentrations (1.78-7.14 x 10(-5) M) of linoleic acid (LA) or CLA. Linoleic acid initially stimulated MCF-7 cell growth with an optimal effect at concentrations of 3.57-7.14 x 10(-5) M, but was inhibitory at similar concentrations after 8 and 12 d of incubation. [6] Thus, at certain concentrations, linoleic acid is a cancer-enhancer while at certain concentrations, it is an anti-cancer agent. 

REFERENCE

[1] de Goede J, et al,Linoleic acid intake, plasma cholesterol and 10-year incidence of CHD in 20 000 middle-aged men and women in the Netherlands. Br J Nutr. 2011 Aug 5:1-7.

[2] Czernichow S, N-6 fatty acids and cardiovascular health: dietary intake recommendations Med Sci (Paris). 2011 Jun-Jul;27(6-7):614-8.

[3] Miura K, et al, Relationship of dietary linoleic acid to blood pressure. The International Study of Macro-Micronutrients and Blood Pressure Study [corrected]. Hypertension. 2008 Aug;52(2):408-14. 

[4] Espinosa-Neira R et al, Linoleic acid induces an EMT-like process in mammary epithelial cells MCF10A. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2011 Sep 16. 

[5] Rose DP, Connolly JM. Stimulation of growth of human breast cancer cell lines in culture by linoleic acid. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1989 Oct 16;164(1):277-83. 

[6] Shultz TD, Chew BP, Seaman WR., Differential stimulatory and inhibitory responses of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells to linoleic acid and conjugated linoleic acid in culture. Anticancer Res. 1992 Nov-Dec;12(6B):2143-5

Research on Apple

Flávia A P Ribeiro and colleagues considers that apples have plenty of phytochemicals, including flavonoids (catechins, flavonols, quercetin) and phenolic acids (quercetin glycosides, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidins), vitamins, and fibers, and most of them have antioxidant properties. And, chemoprevention means the use of natural or synthetic agents to interfere with the progression, reverse, or inhibit carcinogenesis, thereby reducing the risk of developing clinically invasive disease.Researchers studied how apples might help prevent cancer. They tested apple extracts in both lab experiments (in-vitro) and on live animals (in-vivo). Their findings suggest that certain components in apples might fight cancer by protecting cells from damage and regulating cell growth. However, more research is needed. Scientists need to pinpoint the exact substances in apples that have this anticancer effect. They also want to find out when and how much apple is most beneficial. Large studies involving people (randomized controlled trials) would be ideal for this. Additionally, studies on animals can provide valuable insights into how apples might benefit our overall health and potentially prevent other diseases like cancer. In short, this area deserves further exploration. It could lead to a new approach to health, not just for apples, but for other fruits with potential to fight diseases. (1)

Roberto Fabiani and colleagues ran a meta-analysis checking whether an association exists between apple intake and cancer risk. They examined 41 studies on apples and cancer risk. These studies fell into two categories: Case-control studies (20) and cohort studies (21): Case-control studies compare people with cancer to those without, looking back at their apple consumption habits. Cohort studies follow people over time, tracking their apple intake and who develops cancer. They found: 1. Studies on lung cancer showed a clear benefit from eating apples, regardless of whether they were case-control or cohort studies. This means people who ate the most apples had a significantly lower risk of lung cancer. 2. Studies on other cancers like colorectal, breast, and overall digestive tract cancers were less conclusive. Case-control studies suggested apples might help prevent these cancers, but long-term cohort studies didn't find the same effect. This could be due to other factors in people's diets that weren't considered in the studies. While apples might be helpful for lung cancer, more research is needed to confirm their impact on other cancers. It's also important to consider people's overall diet, not just apple consumption. (2)

REFERENCES

(1) Flávia A P Ribeiro et al, The chemopreventive activity of apple against carcinogenesis: antioxidant activity and cell cycle control, Eur J Cancer Prev

. 2014 Sep;23(5):477-80. 

(2) Roberto Fabiani et al, Apple intake and cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies, Public Health Nutr. 2016 Oct;19(14):2603-17.