Search Results (175)

In this study, an analysis was carried out of the combustion of pellets made from chamomile and English ryegrass biomass, including those with the addition of kaolin and urea, in terms of their physical and chemical properties. During combustion tests with synchronized timing, the concentrations of CO₂, CO, NO, and SO₂ in the flue gases were measured, along with the temperatures of the supplied air and the flue gases. The addition of kaolin improved combustion parameters, reduced CO emissions, and stabilized the combustion process, despite the deterioration of the mechanical durability of the pellets. Combustion in the drop-in burner (type B tests) showed higher energy efficiency (CEI) and lower flue gas toxicity (TI) than in the grate system (type A tests). The SiO₂ content in the chamomile ash explained its higher resistance to slagging, confirmed by characteristic ash temperatures. Comparison with other biofuels (straw, hay, sawdust) showed similarities or advantages in terms of reducing CO, NO, and SO₂ emissions. NO emissions were lower for pellets with urea and kaolin added, although in the case of biomass with high nitrogen content these relationships require further improvement. The research results indicate the potential of herbaceous biomass as a fuel in local heating systems. However, modification of such fuels is also associated with the need for further research on reducing emissions during unstabilized combustion phases, with particular emphasis on the ignition phase. Full article

Similarly to conventional field crops, weeds often pose significant problems in the cultivation of medicinal plants. To date, no comprehensive documentation exists regarding weed infestation levels in these crops in Serbia. The objective of this study was to provide a valuable foundation for developing effective, site-specific weed management strategies in medicinal crop production. Weeds in five medicinal crops (lemon balm, fennel, peppermint, ribwort plantain, German chamomile), were surveyed based on the agro-phytosociological method between 2019 and 2024, and across 59 plots. A total of 109 weed species were recorded, belonging to 29 families and 88 genera. Among them, 75 were annuals and 34 perennials, including 93 broadleaved species, 10 grasses, and one parasitic species. All surveyed plots were heavily infested with perennial weeds such as Elymus repens, Cirsium arvense, Convolvulus arvensis, Lepidium draba, Rumex crispus, Sorghum halepense, Taraxacum officinale, etc. Also, several annual species were found in high abundance and frequency, including Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Galium aparine, Lactuca serriola, Lamium amplexicaule, L. purpureum, Papaver rhoeas, Stellaria media, Veronica hederifolia, V. persica, etc. The most important ecological factors influencing the composition of weed vegetation in investigated medicinal crops were temperature and light for fennel and peppermint plots, soil reaction for lemon balm and ribwort plantain plots, and nutrient content for German chamomile plots. A perspective for exploitation of these results is the development of effective weed control programs tailored to this specific cropping system. Weed control strategies should consider such information, targeting the control of the most frequent, abundant, and dominant species existing in a crops or locality. Full article

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen with a high tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions, making its control in the food chain a particular challenge. Essential oils have recently been considered as potential antilisterial agents. In this study, the antilisterial effects of 57 EOs were tested on 13 different L. monocytogenes. Thirty-seven EOs were found to be effective in a strain and temperature-dependent manner. At 37 °C, all EOs were effective against at least one strain of L. monocytogenes. However, at 14 °C and 23 °C, 12 EOs, such as Minth, Nutmeg, Neroli, Pepperminth, etc., became drastically ineffective. The efficacy of the EOs increased at the lowest temperature, as only four EOs, such as Dill seed, Juniper, lemon eucalyptus, and sandalwood, were found to be ineffective at 4 °C. Ajowan and thyme were the only EOs that were antibacterial against each strain at all temperatures tested (4, 14, 23, 37 °C). Biofilm-inhibition tests with 57 EOs, performed on polystyrene plates with different surface qualities and stainless steel, using 0.1% and 0.5% final concentrations, showed the outstanding inhibitory abilities of ajowan, geranium, Lime oil, melissa, palmarosa, rose geranium, sandalwood, and thyme. Fennel, lemon eucalyptus, and chamomile had the potential to inhibit biofilm formation without affecting live bacterial cell counts. Ajowan, geranium, thyme, and palmarosa reduced the biofilm to the optical density of 0.0–0.08, OD: 0.0–0.075, 0.0–0.072, and 0.0–0.04, respectively, compared to the bacterium control 0.085–0.45. The mature antibiofilm eradication ability of the EOs revealed the outstanding features of ajowan, geranium Lime, melissa, palmarosa, rose geranium, and thyme by suppressing the established biofilm to one tenth. The different sensitivities of the isolates and the temperature-dependent antilisterial effect of the tested EOs have to be taken into account if an EO-based food preservation technology is to be implemented, as several L. monocytogenes become resistant to different EOs at medium temperature ranges such as 14 °C and 23 °C. Full article

Chamomile essential oils (EOs) are widely used in cosmetics for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Bulgaria, with its long-standing tradition in EO production, provides an ideal setting to examine the influence of species and cultivation practices on oil quality. This study compares the chemical composition and biological activity of EOs from German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile L.), sourced from two major Bulgarian producers—Bulgarska Bilka Ltd. and Kateko Ltd. (Plovdiv, Bulgaria). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) profiling revealed species- and producer-dependent differences. German chamomile EOs were rich in β-farnesene, chamazulene, and bisabolol oxides, whereas Roman chamomile EOs were dominated by isobutyl angelate and related esters. Antioxidant activity, assessed via the ABTS assay, was higher in German chamomile EOs, especially from Bulgarska Bilka Ltd. The oils also showed photoprotective potential, with SPF values of 26–27 for German and 9–16 for Roman chamomile. Anti-inflammatory activity, evaluated by inhibition of albumin denaturation, was highest in Roman chamomile oils and comparable to that of prednisolone, while German chamomile also showed strong effects. Antimicrobial activity was generally low, with moderate effects observed only against Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus flavus. These findings support the targeted use of chamomile EOs in cosmetics—German chamomile for antioxidant-rich, UV-protective, and microbiome-supportive care, and Roman chamomile for soothing, anti-inflammatory, and fragrance-enhancing applications. Full article

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is a suitable medicinal and aromatic crop to cultivate in diverse regions, but its relationship with weather is a major concern in evaluating the development and crop production in the Western Himalayan region. Thus, a field experiment was executed for two years (2018–2019 and 2019–2020) at CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India, to evaluate the crop weather relationship studies and different phenological phases of German chamomile under acidic soil conditions of mid hills of Western Himalaya. Agrometeorological indices were worked out for four different sowing times from 20 November to 20 January with foliar application of elicitor, i.e., salicylic acid at three levels (viz., SA0: 0 mg/L, SA1: 25 mg/L, SA2: 50 mg/L). The results revealed that the number of days required for attaining each phenological stage decreased with a delay in sowing time. Higher growing degree days (GDDs), photothermal units (PTUs) and heliothermal units (HTUs) were accumulated for early sowing of 20 November and showed a gradual decrease with delayed sowing. Salicylic acid application produced a significant effect on the accumulation of agrometeorological indices, irrespective of the applied doses, and showed irregularity. Higher accumulation of GDDs, PTUs, and HTUs is associated with higher flower and essential oil yield; thus, the results showed that agrometeorological indices are associated with the production of German chamomile. Full article

The whitening potential of natural products is commonly assessed through spectrophotometric assays that colorimetrically measure the inhibitory effects on tyrosinase, a key enzyme in pigment formation. However, these assays fail to provide evidence about the input of individual components into the total activity of a mixture like plant extracts. This study introduced chromatographic methods to identify active natural products without isolating them from their mixtures. In this study, various plant extracts of differing polarities (EtOH, 50% EtOH, and HOH) from species growing in the Lubelskie region of Poland were evaluated for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase. The most active extract identified through spectrophotometric assays was a 50% EtOH extract from Matricaria recutita L. (Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert). Subsequent HPLC-MS analysis allowed for the identification of several active compounds from different classes, including organic acids, glycosylated phenolics, and phenolic acids that interacted with the enzyme. The bioactivity of individual components was confirmed through classical spectrophotometric assays, highlighting ferulic acid (IC₅₀ = 0.484 µM), quinic acid (IC₅₀ = 22.90 µM), and citric acid (IC₅₀ = 24.18 µM) as three representatives of different classes of molecules with inhibitory potential. Furthermore, the whitening capacity of the chamomile extract was investigated in a zebrafish model, demonstrating effective pigmentation inhibition in Danio rerio larvae and validating the proposed chromatographic approach. Full article

Plastic pollution and environmental degradation necessitate the development of natural, biodegradable food preservation materials. This study examined chitosan-based film-forming solutions using kombucha derived from black tea, lemon balm, and chamomile as natural solvents rich in bioactive compounds. Lemon balm kombucha solutions were used to create chitosan films and coat red peppers. The study assessed the mechanical properties of the films and the effects of chitosan coating on peppers, including texture, ascorbic acid content, sensory attributes, and antioxidant activity. Microbiological tests showed that a chitosan–lemon balm kombucha solution acted against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica. Lemon balm kombucha had high total phenolic (381.67 µg GAeq/mL) and flavonoid (21.05 µg Qeq/mL) contents. The chitosan film exhibited a tensile strength of 11.08 MPa and an elongation at break of 53.45%. The water vapor transmission rate of the obtained chitosan film was 131.84 g/m²·24 h. Coated peppers showed a 32% increase in skin strength and retained 11% more ascorbic acid after 15 days. Sensory evaluation revealed no significant differences from controls. These results highlight lemon balm kombucha as a promising natural solvent for chitosan coatings, which have the potential to extend red pepper shelf life and to support food preservation. Full article

Ready-to-drink herbal teas are increasingly popular due to their pleasant aroma and taste, with plants cultivated organically showing improved quality properties. Vis/NIR absorbance and multivariate analysis were used for classifying infused herbal teas cultivated under organic systems, in addition to testing various spectral pretreatments to assess the identification accuracy improvement. A total of 150 herbal tea infusions (boldo, carqueja, chamomile, fennel, and lemon grass) were evaluated, and six spectral pretreatments (centering, standard normal variation, object-wise standardization, first derivative, second derivative, and detrending) were applied to the spectra. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used to distinguish the infused herbal teas. Clustering patterns were affected by the pretreatments, and the PCA was capable of separating the infused herbal teas. The PLS-DA was efficient in identifying the infusions, reaching kappa values from 0.97 to 1.00 with optimal latent variable numbers from two to five. Detrending and object-wise standardization pretreatments led to better results and required fewer latent variables. The proposed methodology presents the potential to be used in a fast, safe, environmentally friendly (without chemical reagents), and nondestructive way, appearing as essential for meeting the technological development of the agrifood industry. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sleep is essential to human health, playing a vital role in physical and mental well-being. Sleep disorders can lead to significant health complications, such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes, obesity, and depression. In Brazil, plants such as passionflower (Passiflora spp.), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) and mulungu (Erythrina spp.) are widely used in folk medicine for their sleep-promoting properties. This article reviews the existing literature on the sleep-promoting effects of these plants, focusing on the Brazilian context and popular knowledge of their use. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted, including scientific articles in English and Portuguese from PubMed, Scielo and Google Scholar databases. Ethnobotanical studies documenting the traditional use of these plants in Brazil and clinical and preclinical research on their sleep-promoting effects were included. Results: The juice and infusion of the leaves and fruits of passionflower are mainly used to treat anxiety and insomnia, chamomile flower tea is used for its sedative effects, and mulungu bark decoctions are used for their sedative and anxiolytic properties. These popular uses are supported by scientific studies demonstrating the efficacy of these plants in treating insomnia, anxiety, and stress. Conclusions: The recognition of traditional knowledge and the inclusion of these plants in RENISUS highlights their importance for public health in Brazil. However, more rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety and ensure their safe integration into modern medicine. Full article

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is not only considered a weed but also an important crop cultivated for the pharmaceutical industry. Chamomile seeds are positively photoblastic and must be sown on the soil surface. However, heavy rainfall can bury the seeds, resulting in uneven germination and partial yield loss. To address both agricultural and scientific aspects, we applied various light sources with different spectra ranging from 400 to 720 nm versus darkness, as well as smoke compounds formulated in smoke water (SW), to chamomile seeds. Our results indicate that a high proportion of red light within the spectrum is crucial for seed germination and seedling establishment. Fluorescent lamps were the least effective due to their high blue light content, highlighting the need to use white or red LEDs in experiments with chamomile seeds. The smoke compounds present in SW compensated for the absence of light, increasing seed germination by 20% in the dark, and their mode of action was additive to light, suggesting that they share the same signaling pathway. The effect of SW on seeds was stimulatory regardless of the light regime, suggesting that smoke formulations may act as a priming factor for chamomile seeds. Full article

This study evaluates the effects of fortifying bread with different concentrations (3%, 10%, and 30%) of Matricaria chamomilla L. (MC) infusion and powder, derived from the plant’s aerial parts (stem, leaf, and flower). UPLC/MS-MS analysis of MC infusion and powder ethanolic extract confirmed the presence of polyphenolic compounds, including flavonoids, contributing to enhanced antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties. The physicochemical, antioxidant, and sensory properties of the enriched breads were assessed. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that breads enriched with 30% MC powder (BP-MC 30%) and infusion (BI-MC 30%) exhibited superior overall quality compared with other formulations. The enriched breads showed increased protein, fiber, and antioxidant content. Specifically, BI-MC 30% demonstrated superior antioxidant activity, while BP-MC 30% provided the highest fiber content. Sensory evaluation indicated that the enriched breads retained sensory properties similar to those of the control bread, despite the nutritional improvements. These findings suggest that incorporating Matricaria chamomilla, particularly at 30%, enhances the nutritional profile and antioxidant properties of bread while maintaining sensory characteristics close to those of traditional bread. This research highlights the potential of using chamomile’s aerial parts in the valorization of plant-based by-products for functional bakery product development. Full article

The nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating immune responses in epithelial cells. In this study, we established a porcine epithelial NF-κB reporter cell line (PK15-KBR) as an in vitro platform to screen plant-based extracts for their potential use as vaccine adjuvants against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). The NF-κB inducers were further tested for toxicity assessments, either using CCK-8 assays or intramuscular injection in mice, finally followed by vaccination studies to evaluate their adjuvancy. Initial experiments confirmed that TNF-α effectively activated NF-κB signaling in PK15-KBR cells in a dose-dependent manner, validating the platform’s reliability at Z’ value of 0.68. Of the 224 testers, 3 candidates, including chamomile, mulberry and Boerhaavia diffusa, showed induction activity; however, only chamomile induced a dose-dependent response in PK15-KBR cells. As a proof of concept, chamomile, used as an adjuvant in oral vaccination, demonstrated significantly higher IgG levels at an early stage (day 14, p < 0.05) and enhanced IgA titers. These findings highlight the use of the PK15-KBR cell line in identifying mucosal adjuvants and position chamomile extract as a promising candidate for enhancing vaccine-induced immunity. Full article

The ageing of the world population has led to an increase in the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. In this regard, plants have become an important source of bioactive principles that are able to act on multiple targets. Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family, known as Roman chamomile, less studied in the scientific literature than the more common Matricaria chamomilla. Flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones represent the main secondary metabolites. Among these, nobilin and its derivatives are considered the main components. With the aim of performing a phytochemical investigation, the extract of the fresh aerial parts of C. nobile was firstly analysed by LC-(+)ESI/QExactive/MS/MS, which guided the isolation of 15 compounds (coumarins, glucoside derivatives, flavonoids, and germacrane-type sesquiterpene lactones) characterised by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The presence of a derivative of nobilin, never been reported before, was highlighted. Moreover, for all isolated compounds, acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibitory activity were tested by spectrophotometric assays. The results showed that the tested compounds presented interesting tyrosinase (IC₅₀ values: 32.09–412.02 µM) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ values: 181.58–387.99 µM). In detail, apigenin 7-O-rutinoside (6) showed the highest tyrosinase and AchE inhibitory activity, with IC₅₀ values of 32.09 and 181.58 µM, respectively. Full article

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a variety of ancient therapies with origins in cultures such as those of China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, India, and Rome. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) classifies these integrative therapies into five categories: (1) mind–body therapies, (2) biological practices, (3) manipulative and body practices, (4) energy medicine, and (5) whole medical systems, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. This review explores the role of biological practices utilizing aromatic plants, particularly through inhalation aromatherapy and massage with essential oils, as effective complementary strategies within health systems. The review compiles information on the most commonly used plants and essential oils for holistic health maintenance from a complementary and alternative perspective. Given their accessibility and relative safety compared to conventional treatments, these therapies have gained popularity worldwide. Furthermore, the integration of essential oils has been shown to alleviate various psychological and physiological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disorders, neuropathic pain, nausea, and menopausal symptoms. Among the studied plants, lavender has emerged as being particularly notable due to its broad spectrum of therapeutic effects and its designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “Generally Recognized as Safe”. Other essential oils under investigation include eucalyptus, damask rose, sandalwood, vetiver, calamus, frankincense, chamomile, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, orange, sage, rosemary, garlic, and black pepper. This study emphasizes the potential benefits of these aromatic plants in enhancing patient well-being. Additionally, it underscores the importance of conducting further research to ensure the safety and efficacy of these therapies. Full article