Chamomile and Marigold Tea: Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of Anticancer Activity

Abstract

With the aim to evaluate the selectivity in the antitumor action, the cytotoxic activity of chamomile and marigold tea was tested against various malignant cell lines and against healthy immunocompetent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Chemical profiles of chamomile and marigold infusions and decoctions were analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry; their total phenolic content and radical scavenging activity were determined, too. Results from present research demonstrate that chamomile and marigold tea exert selective dose-dependent cytotoxic action against target cancer cells. It is noteworthy that cytotoxicity of tea prepared from Calendula officinalis is remarkably higher in comparison to that from Matricaria recutita tea. The cytotoxic effect of chamomile tea is very weak to healthy PBMC, while the effect of marigold tea on PBMC is more pronounced. Marigold tea exerts highly selective antitumor effect especially to melanoma Fem-x cells in comparison to the action to normal healthy PBMC. Chemical analyses show that dominant phenolic compounds in examined infusions and decoctions are flavonoid glycosides and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. There are no considerable differences in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity between examined infusions. Antitumor potential of chamomile and marigold tea should be further investigated.

Estonian folk traditional experiences on natural anticancer remedies: From past to the future

“…Cytotoxic action of marigold tea is highly selective to target cancer cells being similar to the effect of chamomile tea; however, marigold tea exhibits significantly stronger cytotoxic action against malignant cell lines in comparison to chamomile tea (Matic et al, 2013;Srivastava & Gupta, 2007). In recent years, different extracts of Chamomilla recutita have shown to suppress the growth of various human malignant cell lines, such as prostate, cervical, colon, and breast cancer as well as leukemia cells (Kogiannou et al, 2013;Matic et al, 2013;Srivastava & Gupta, 2007. Besides the extraction techniques many other factors may play role in the biological activity of chamomile, including climatic and seasonal changes, harvest time, and storage conditions, whereas the major bioactive compound possessing anticancer activity in chamomile extract might be apigenin (Srivastava & Gupta, 2009).…”

“…Triterpene glycosides isolated from marigold flowers exhibit the potent cytotoxic activity against human colon cancer, leukemia, and melanoma cells (Ukiya et al, 2006) and the flower extract can suppress the metastatic spread of melanoma cells to lung in mice (Preethi et al, 2010). Cytotoxic action of marigold tea is highly selective to target cancer cells being similar to the effect of chamomile tea; however, marigold tea exhibits significantly stronger cytotoxic action against malignant cell lines in comparison to chamomile tea (Matic et al, 2013;Srivastava & Gupta, 2007). In recent years, different extracts of Chamomilla recutita have shown to suppress the growth of various human malignant cell lines, such as prostate, cervical, colon, and breast cancer as well as leukemia cells (Kogiannou et al, 2013;Matic et al, 2013;Srivastava & Gupta, 2007.…”

A comparative study between natural and synthetic antioxidants: Evaluation of their performance after incorporation into biscuits

“…(fennel) and Matricaria recutita L. (chamomile) were successively incorporated as natural antioxidants and antimicrobials for cottage-cheese (Caleja, Barros, Antonio, Ciric, Barreira, et al, 2015;Caleja, Barros, Antonio, Ciric, Soković , et al, 2015;Caleja, Ribeiro, et al, 2016) and yogurts (Caleja, Barros, et al, 2016), being those properties attributed to phenolic compounds namely di-caf feoyl-2,7-anhydro-3-deoxy-2-octulopyranosonic acid and luteolin-O-glucuronide in fennel (Caleja, Barros, Antonio, Ciric, Soković , et al, 2015) and quercetin-3-O-glucoside and 5-Ocaffeolylquinic acid in chamomile (Caleja, Barros, Antonio, Ciric, Barreira, et al, 2015). Furthermore, the infusions of the abovementioned plants have been traditionally used for the treatment of hypertension, neurological diseases, and allergies (Matić et al, 2013;Ranpariya, Parmar, Sheth, & Chandrashekhar, 2011;Rather, Dar, Sofi, Bhat, & Qurishi, 2012).…”

Chemical characterization and bioactive properties of two aromatic plants: Calendula officinalis L. (flowers) and Mentha cervina L. (leaves)

“…9 Other reported activities include immuno-stimulating and immunomodulatory, 11 spasmolytic, spasmogenic and gastroprotective, 12,13 insecticidal, 14 heart rate decrease, 15 cardioprotective, 16 geno-toxic and antigenotoxic dose-dependent, 17 antioxidant 4,[18][19][20] and antitumoral effects. 7,21,22 Mentha cervina L. (Lamiaceae) also known as Hart's pennyroyal, is an aromatic herb, found mainly in Eurasia and Africa. This species of mint grows on edges of flooded areas, sometimes temporarily and has been cultivated in Central Europe since the sixteenth century, used as a medicinal herb in part because of its fine flavor.…”