Planta Med 2015; 81 - PW_29
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565653

Antibacterial activity of Matricaria chamomilla flower and leaf extracts

BF Navarro 1, M del Carmen Ortiz García 1, BN Marin 1, ML Rodríguez 2, AV Hernández 3
  • 1Laboratorio de Glicobiología. División de estudios de posgrado. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y Biológicas “Dr. Ignacio Chávez”. UMSNH, Morelia, Mexico
  • 2Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia UMSNH, Morelia, Mexico
  • 3Hospital de especialidades, CMN SXXI, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico

Matricaria chamomilla L., also known as chamomile, is used as an anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, analgesic, sedative, and antiulcer, among others. In Mexico flowers and leaves are used to treat different ailments. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of flower and leaf extracts from M. chamomilla.

Leaves and flowers were macerated and centrifuged (3000 rpm/20 min/4 °C), the supernatant was called aqueous extract (AE). Flower (F) and Leaf (L) were extracted with acetone and ethanol. The solvent extracts were evaporated to dryness using rotary flash evaporator. Dry residues were dissolved in acetone (AE) or ethanol (EE) (1:10 w/v); extracts without pigments were macerated and centrifuged (EWP). The antimicrobial activities of extracts obtained were tested by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and the time-killing curve method [1] against six bacterial pathogens. The AE presented antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, FAE MIC of 0.110 mg/mL and LAE MIC of 0.169 mg/mL. FAE was bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 27543, with Bacillus cereus (MIC 2 mg/mL), and against Shigella sonnei (MIC 0.5 mg/mL). LAE had an effect on S. aureus ATCC 27543 (MIC 2 mg/mL), B. cereus ATCC 14579 (MIC 4 mg/mL) and S. sonnei (MIC 0.5 mg/mL). The FEE was active against S. aureus ATCC 27543 and ATCC 25923 (MIC 2 mg/mL), B. cereus ATCC 14579, S. sonnei and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (MIC 4 mg/mL), Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644 (MIC 0.5 mg/mL). The FEE is bactericidal against P. aeruginosa 27853. The EWP did not exhibit antibacterial activity. This is the first report were the flowers and leaf extracts antibacterial activity are analyzed simultaneously. M. chamomilla flowers and leaves extracts exhibit antibacterial properties; the active compounds are found in the acetonic and alcoholic extracts.

References:

[1] Courvalin, P., et al. Cinétique de l'activité bactéricide. In: Antibiogramme Paris: ESKA 2006; 635