Abstract

Matricaria chamomilla L. or German chamomile is an annual plant of the composite family Asteraceae. In this study, M. chamomilla L. were collected from Neyshabur, Iran. Chemical constituent of essential oils of M. chamomilla L. were determined. Aerial parts (200 gr) were subjected to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger – type apparatus until there was no significant increase in the volume of the oil collected (2.5 h). The yield of the blue oil was 0.9% (w/w). The essential oil was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Identification of the components was based on GC retention indices computer matching with Wiley GC-MS library, and by comparison of the fragmentation patterns of the mass spectra with those reported in the literature (Adams, 2004). 47 components were identified constituting more than 83.1% of the oil. p-Cymene-8-ol(0.7%), Azulene(0.4%), p-Cymene (1.1%), 1,8-Cineole (2.1%), Artemisia Alcohol (0.2%), β-Elemene (0.9%), cis-β-farnesene (0.9%), trans-β-farnesene (5.2%), Borneol (0.8%), γ-Cadinene (0.4%), Spathulenol (9.4%), γ-Eudesmol (1.5%), α-Bisabolol oxide B(7.0%), α-Bisabolol oxide A (21.5%), α-Bisabolol (5.0%), Chamazulene (4.2%) and Germacrene D (0.8%) were major components in M. chamomilla L. oil. The oil was tested against seven strains of bacteria (Gram-positive and Gram-negative). The oil showed mild to significant antimicrobial activity associated mainly with Gram-positive and Gram-Negative bacteria.

Key words: Matricaria chamomilla L., essential oil, antimicrobial activity, α-Bisabolol oxide A, α-Bisabolol oxide B.