Potential Hepatoprotective Effect of Matricaria Pubescens on High-Fat Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats.

This study aimed to identify the phytochemical compounds of Matricaria pubescens by LC-MS/MS and evaluate the potential protective effect of its supplementation in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adult rats through modulation of oxidative stress and histopathological changes. Twenty-four male rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group served as control and received the standard diet. The second group (HFD) received a high-fat diet only (30 % of sheep fat). The third group's (control+MP) animals received a standard diet supplemented with 5 % M. pubescens (w/w). The fourth group (HFD+MP) received a high-fat diet supplemented with 5 % M. pubescens for 16 weeks. LC-MS/MS analysis showed that M. pubescens contains many phytochemical compounds. It was observed that the ethanolic extract of M. pubescens has a higher phenolic content than the aqueous extract. The supplementation of M. pubescens (5 % w/w) to HFD rats decreased significantly (p<0.01) body weight, liver and epididymal adipose tissue relative weights, glycemia, triglycerides (TG), insulin resistance, liver markers, TNF-α, malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PCO), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) level, and increased reduced glutathione (GSH) level, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activities as well as ameliorated histological alterations through the reduction hepatic lipid deposition and adipocytes hypertrophy compared to the HFD group. We conclude that M. pubescens powder may be effective for correcting hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, and liver markers while decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver of high-fat diet-fed rats.

High-Quality Assembly and Analysis of the Complete Mitogenomes of German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) are the two well-known chamomile species from the Asteraceae family. Owing to their essential oils and higher medicinal value, these have been cultivated widely across Europe, Northwest Asia, North America, and Africa. Regarding medicinal applications, German chamomile is the most commonly utilized variety and is frequently recognized as the "star among medicinal species". The insufficient availability of genomic resources may negatively impact the progression of chamomile industrialization. Chamomile's mitochondrial genome is lacking in extensive empirical research. In this study, we achieved the successful sequencing and assembly of the complete mitochondrial genome of M. chamomilla and C. nobile for the first time. An analysis was conducted on codon usage, sequence repeats within the mitochondrial genome of M. chamomilla and C. nobile. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a consistent positioning of M. chamomilla and C. nobile branches within both mitochondrial and plastid-sequence-based phylogenetic trees. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis also showed a close relationship between M. chamomilla and C. nobile within the clade comprising species from the Asteraceae family. The results of our analyses provide valuable resources for evolutionary research and molecular barcoding in chamomile.

Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Molecular Docking Study of Dry Extracts of Matricaria discoidea DC. with Analgesic and Soporific Activities.

Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea DC.) is a widespread plant in Europe and North America. In ethnomedicine, it is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic activities. The aim of this research was to develop novel methods of M. discoidea processing to obtain essential oil and dry extracts and to investigate their phytochemical compositions. Moreover, the molecular docking of the main substances and the in vivo studies on their soporific and analgesic activities were conducted. The essential oil and two dry extracts from M. discoidea were prepared. A total of 16 phenolic compounds (seven flavonoids, seven hydroxycinnamic acids, and two phenolic acids) in the dry extracts were identified by means of UPLC-MS/MS. In the essential oil, nine main terpenoids were identified by gas chromatography (GC). It was shown that phenolic extraction from the herb was successful when using 70% ethanol in a triple extraction method and at a ratio of 1:14-1:16. The in vivo studies with rodents demonstrated the analgesic activity of the M. discoidea extracts and improvements in the sleep of animals. The dry extracts of M. discoidea did not show any toxicity. The molecular docking analysis showed a high probability of COX-1,2 inhibition and NMDA receptor antagonism by the extracts.

Imaging metabolic mechanisms and the binding behavior of nutrients/transporters of edible Matricaria flowers VOCs.

To promote the consumption of flowers and to utilize the nutritional value of proteins, the efficacy of the beneficial components of flowers has been intensively studied. Anthemis nobilis was used as the study object, and all its volatile components (VOCs) were fingerprinted using headspace solid-phase micro-extraction gas-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). GC-MS fingerprints of five parts of Anthemis nobilis were established using three proteins, bovine lactoferrin (BLF), bovine lactoglobulin (ß-Lg), and human serum albumin (HSA), as nutrient transporters. The interactions between the volatile components from different parts of the mother chrysanthemum plant and the nutrient/transport proteins were investigated. The results of fingerprinting showed that the flavor components were dominated by alkenes. In addition, this study revealed that among the three nutrient transporters, the strongest binding to the adsorbed volatile components was HSA, followed by BLF, and ß-Lg was second. In addition, a characteristic molecule, camphene, was screened. Integrated molecular simulation using fluorescence spectroscopy was used to validate the results of the interaction of the nutrient/transport proteins systems with characteristic molecule. The properties of the characteristic molecules such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity in vivo were analyzed using ADMET to provide a theoretical basis for the preparation of flower-flavored dairy products.

Rapid screening and target-guided isolation of antioxidants from German chamomile by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with off-line two-dimensional high-speed countercurrent chromatography.

German chamomile is one of the most effective herbal elements used in anti-allergic products and as an antioxidant. Herein, the antioxidant activity of different extract fractions of German chamomile was initially evaluated using an off-line 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl spectrophotometric assay. The ethyl acetate extract demonstrated the highest efficacy in scavenging free radicals. Based on this, a rapid screening and separation method using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay was implemented to identify antioxidants in the ethyl acetate fraction of German chamomile flowers. Ten potential radical scavengers were tentatively screened from German chamomile using a target-guided isolating approach with off-line two-dimensional high-speed countercurrent chromatography and the structures of the compounds were analyzed and identified. Ultimately, 10 radical scavengers were obtained from the ethyl acetate extract with a purity quotient exceeding 90%. The results demonstrated the effectiveness and reproducibility of this method for isolating potential antioxidants from complex mixtures in a targeted manner. This strategy can be applied to the target-guided isolation of complex mixtures of natural products with broad K-values and similar structures.

Effects of aromatherapy with Matricaria chamomile essential oil on anxiety and hemodynamic indices in patients with acute coronary syndrome, 2021: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) experience high levels of anxiety that may cause instability of hemodynamic indices, increased risk of ischemia, myocardial infarction and poor quality of life. Aromatherapy can affect patients' anxiety levels and improve hemodynamic indices. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of aromatherapy on anxiety and hemodynamic indices in ACS patients. METHODS: This study was a double-blind, randomized clinical trial conducted on 154 ACS patients. The participants were classified into two equal groups of intervention and placebo through the block randomization method. The data collection tools consisted of demographic information, a shortened 6-item version of the Spielberger questionnaire and a form of hemodynamic indices. For two consecutive nights, the intervention group inhaled 7 drops of the chamomile essential oil (%10) and the placebo group inhaled 7 drops of the sesame oil poured on a sterile cotton ball. The hemodynamic indices were collected half an hour before, one and four hours after the intervention until the next morning. The Spielberger questionnaire was completed once before the intervention and once after the end of the intervention, by the researcher through an interview. The number of heart rate (HR) was counted for a full minute. Also, the blood pressure (BP) of all the samples was measured by the researcher. Data analysis was done using Chi-square, paired t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS22. RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation of the age of patients were 58/2 ± 11.6 and 59.7% of them were female. The results of ANOVA showed a significantly lower anxiety score as well as systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HR in the intervention group compared to those of the placebo group (P < 0.001). The decrease in anxiety score after the intervention, in the intervention and placebo groups was (5.2 ± 1.9) and (1 ± 1. 18) respectively. In the intervention group, the SBP and DBP after the intervention, was significant (P < 0.05). Also, the HR was significant (P < 0.001) after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Aromatherapy could reduce anxiety and improve hemodynamic indices in ACS patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT20080825001083N11.

Influence of Inula helenium rhizomes and Matricaria chamomilla inflorescences on the biochemical and physiological parameters in male rats fed a high-fat diet.

Background: Pharmacological correction of a high-fat diet is of great interest to prevent the development of obesity and hypertension. More and more research is being done on the preventive use of medicinal herbs for excess caloric intake. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the general physiological effect of I. helenium rhizomes and M. chamomilla inflorescences used in the diet of male rats consuming excess amounts of fat and calories in the daily diet. Material and methods: In a 30-day experiment, we determined the effect of I. helenium rhizome and M. chamomilla on the physiological activity and metabolic processes of laboratory rats consuming a high-fat diet. The physical activity was evaluated according to the mass gain of animals and change in the relative mass of the internal organs, and also the functional conditions of the central nervous system. The influence on the metabolic processes was revealed by biochemical and clinical blood analyses. Results: In a laboratory experiment on male rats, it was found that the addition of dry crushed rhizomes of Inula helenium L. and inflorescences of Matricaria chamomilla L. to the diet caused opposite changes in body weight. In the control group, the animals slightly increased their body weight (up to 111.5% of the initial weight by the end of the experiment); the rhizomes of I. helenium caused a decrease in body weight gain (up to 105.5% on the 30th day of the experiment compared to the initial weight); rats fed M. chamomilla inflorescences gained 123.2% of their initial body weight during the month of the experiment. The rhizomes of I. helenium caused an increase in the stomach relative mass. A decrease in the thymus relative weight was observed when animals were fed M. chamomilla inflorescences. The rhizomes of I. helenium stimulated an increase of blood protein concentration (mainly due to globulins), an increase in the alkaline phosphatase activity and cholesterol, and a decrease in the triglycerides concentration. M. chamomilla inflorescences reduced the blood urea concentration and increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase, causing strong changes in fat metabolism. Under the influence of the diet with the addition of M. chamomilla inflorescences, the atherogenic index increased in animals by 6.5 times relatively to the control group (due to a decrease in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and an increase in the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, an increase in the total cholesterol concentration). When M. chamomilla was added to the diet, the blood triglycerides concentration in animals decreased sharply and the concentration of leukocytes increased. The concentration of monocytes exceeded the limits of the physiological norm both in the control group and in the group of animals fed on M. chamomilla inflorescences. Conclusions: The results of the studies show the promise for further research of I. helenium rhizomes in the prevention of hypertension and also indicate strong risks when using M. chamomilla inflorescences for preventive purposes during high-fat and hypercaloric diet.

Establishment and validation of a callus tissue transformation system for German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.).

BACKGROUND: German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is an important medicinal plant, and the essential oils in the flowers have various biological activities. Genetic transformation systems are important for plant quality improvement and molecular research. To the best of our knowledge, a genetic transformation system has not yet been reported for German chamomile. RESULTS: In this study, we developed Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocols for German chamomile callus tissues. This involved optimizing key parameters, such as hygromycin and cefotaxime concentrations, bacterial density, and infection and co-culture durations. We also performed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis to identify volatile compounds in non-transgenic and transgenic callus and hairy root tissues. Furthermore, to compare and verify the callus transformation system of German chamomile, we transferred McFPS to the hairy roots of German chamomile. The results showed that the optimal conditions for Agrobacterium-mediated callus tissue transformation were as follows: explant, petiole; cefotaxime concentration, 300 mg/L; hygromycin concentration, 10 mg/L; and bacterial solution concentration, OD600 = 0.6; callus transformation efficiency was the highest when the co-culture time was 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: Establishment of a high-efficiency callus transformation system will lay the foundation for gene function identification in German chamomile.

Evaluation of the effect of Matricaria recutita monotherapy or in combination with photodynamic therapy on tissue repair in the dorsum of the tongue of rats.

OBJECTIVE: The search for treatments that accelerate the healing of lesions is of constant interest. Matricaria recutita (chamomile) is a plant with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties, and antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) eradicates microorganisms, which favors tissue repair. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the topical use of chamomile with or without aPDT on tissue repair in rats' tongues. METHODOLOGY: A total of 75 male Wistar rats underwent standardized ulceration on the dorsum of the tongue using a punch of 5 mm diameter and were randomly allocated into the following groups: control (G1), chamomile fluid extract (G2), chamomile infusion (G3), aPDT (G4), and chamomile infusion + aPDT (G5). On the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days postoperatively, euthanasia was performed, and the ulcers were measured using calipers. The presence of edema, inflammatory infiltrate, cellularity, re-epithelialization, and characterization of total collagen were evaluated using sections stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin and Red Sirius. Histomorphometry analyses of the percentage of total collagen, the distance from the basal layer to the epithelial surface, and the thickness of the stratum corneum were performed. Descriptive (absolute/relative frequencies and modes) and exploratory analyses were performed. The associations between the groups and the presence of ulcers were analyzed with Fisher's exact test. All analyses were performed using the R program and statistical significance was set at p=0.05. RESULTS: The G2 positively modulated the exudative and proliferative phases of repair, both clinically (p<0.0001) and histologically, whether in descriptive or inferential analyses (p<0.05). The G3 showed a significant difference in clinical parameters compared with G1 (p<0.0001). The G4 and G5 did not positively modulate tissue repair. CONCLUSION: The chamomile fluid extract showed better outcomes for tissue repair in the rat tongue.

Green synthesized silver nanoparticles using the plant-based reducing agent Matricaria chamomilla induce cell death in colorectal cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: There is a need to treat cancer cells with safe and natural nanoparticles to avoid the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Chamomile is considered a safe, natural plant with anticancer activity. We synthesize simple, inexpensive, and eco-friendly silver nanoparticles (SNs) using Chamomile (CHM) to tune their anticancer properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SN-CHM was synthesized by reducing 1 mM silver nitrate aqueous solution in 100 mL with the aqueous ethanolic flower extract of CHM (18 mg/mL, w/v). The reaction proceeded overnight at 600 rpm and 28°C. SN-CHM was characterized for their % yield, average diameter, charge, morphology, and silver release. Moreover, SN-CHM was investigated for its antioxidant and anticancer activities at 200 µg/mL and 5 mg/ mL, respectively. RESULTS: A 59.12% yield and a uniform SN-CHM size of 115 ± 3.1 nm with a ζ-potential of -27.67 ± (-3.92) mv were observed. The UV-visible absorption showed shifts from 379.5 to 383.5 nm for CHM and SN-CHM, respectively. Moreover, Ag+ was ultimately released from SN-CHM after 5 h. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) showed characteristic absorption peaks of CHM and produced SN-CHM. Furthermore, SN-CHM showed moderate antioxidant activity. SN-CHM inhibited the % viability of SW620 and HT-29 cell lines at 20 µM. SN-CHM may also greatly upregulate the apoptotic gene BAX while considerably downregulating the anti-apoptotic genes BCL2 and BCL-Xl. CONCLUSIONS: CHM can be a safe soft drink, especially when conjugated with Ag ions as anticancer NPs. SN-CHM is considered potent anticancer activity against SW620, and HT-29 cell lines.

Matricaria chamomilla Essential Oils: Repellency and Toxicity against Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Matricaria chamomilla flower essential oils (EOs) blue Egyptian (EO-1), chamomile German CO2 (EO-2), and chamomile German (EO-3) and the pure compound α-bisabolol were evaluated against red imported fire ants (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, black imported fire ants, S. richteri Forel (BIFA), and hybrid imported fire ants (HIFA) for their repellency and toxicity. A series of serial dilutions were tested starting from 125 µg/g until the failure of the treatment. Based on the amount of sand removed, EO-1 showed significant repellency at dosages of 7.8, 7.8, and 31.25 µg/g against RIFA, BIFA, and HIFA, respectively. EO-3 was repellent at 3.9, 7.8, and 31.25 µg/g against BIFA, RIFA, and HIFA, whereas α-bisabolol was active at 7.8, 7.8, and 31.25 µg/g against BIFA, HIFA, and RIFA, respectively. DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) was active at 31.25 µg/g. Toxicity of EOs and α-bisabolol was mild to moderate. For EO-1, LC50 values were 93.6 and 188.11 µg/g against RIFA and BIFA; 98.11 and 138.4 µg/g for EO-2; and 142.92 and 202.49 µg/g for EO-3, respectively. The LC50 of α-bisabolol was 159.23 µg/g against RIFA. In conclusion, M. chamomilla EOs and α-bisabolol offer great potential to be developed as imported fire ant repellents.

Matricaria chamomilla essential oil-loaded hybrid electrospun nanofibers based on polycaprolactone/sulfonated chitosan/ZIF-8 nanoparticles for wound healing acceleration.

Recently, developing antibacterial wound dressings based on biomaterials display good biocompatibility and the potential to accelerate wound healing. For this aim, we prepared eco-friendly and biodegradable nanofibers (NFs) based on N-(3-sulfopropyl)chitosan/ poly (ε-caprolactone) incorporated by zeolite imidazolate framework-8 nanoparticles (ZIF-8 NPs) and chamomile essential oil (MCEO) via the electrospinning technique for their efficacy as wound dressing scaffolds. Fabricated NFs were characterized and studied for their structural, morphological, mechanical, hydrophilic, and thermal stability properties. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that adding the ZIF-8 NPs/ MCEO, very slightly influenced the average diameter of NFs (PCL/SPCS (90:10) with 90 ± 32 nm). The developed uniform MCEO-loaded ZIF-8/PCL/SPCS NFs displayed better cytocompatibility, proliferation, and physicochemical properties (e.g. thermal stability and mechanical properties) than neat NFs. The results of cytocompatibility, DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining study, and SEM micrographs demonstrated that formulated NFs had promising adhesion and proliferation against normal human foreskin fibroblasts-2 (HFF-2 cell line). The prepared NFs revealed excellent antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with inhibition of 32.3 mm and 31.2 mm, respectively. Accordingly, the newly developed antibacterial NFs hold great potential as effective biomaterials for use as an active platform in wound healing applications.

Effect of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), linden (Tilia cordata Mill.), and green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) aqueous extract administration in the drinking water during pre-slaughter feed withdrawal period in broiler chickens.

Feed withdrawal (FW) and other pre-slaughter stressors have detrimental effects on the meat quality of broiler chickens. Herbal extracts can be used for their sedative effects to reduce the harmful impacts of pre-slaughter stress on broiler chickens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of chamomile (CAE), linden (LAE), and green tea (GAE) aqueous extracts (AE) in drinking water during the pre-slaughter FW period on the meat and liver quality, serum corticosterone level, and some cecal microorganisms of broilers. A total of 450 male and female 42-day-old chickens were allocated to a completely randomized design with five treatment groups and two sexes in six replicates, 12 birds (six male and six female) for each replicate. Treatment groups were chickens offered ad libitum feed and drinking water (control, CT), broilers exposed to FW for 10 h before the slaughter with unsupplemented drinking water (FW), with drinking water supplemented 50 ml/L CAE, LAE, and GAE. Chickens that experienced FW had lower (P < 0.001) slaughter body weight, carcass, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and inner organ weights, and GIT length (P = 0.002). However, the dressing percentage was higher (P < 0.001) in FW and AE groups than CT group. The FW increased (P < 0.001) the ultimate pH of thigh meat compared with the CT group. The FW also decreased (P = 0.026) the lightness (L*) value of thigh meat of broilers, although CAE and LAE did not change the L* value compared with the CT group. Similarly, the redness (a*) value of thigh meat was lower (P = 0.003) in chickens exposed to FW but was not affected by GAE administration. However, FW or AE did not impact the serum corticosterone level and cecal microbial loads in broiler chickens. The obtained result showed that CAE, LAE, or GAE can be used in drinking water to reduce the harmful effects of FW on the meat quality of broiler chickens.

Actividad embriotóxica de los extractos acuosos de Allophylus edulis y Matricaria recutita en pez cebra / Embryotoxic activity of aqueous extracts of Allophylus edulis and Matricaria recutita in zebrafish

La planta de uso medicinal Allophylus edulis se utiliza para el tratamiento de enfriamiento, catarro, diabetes y la planta Matricaria recutita (manzanilla) se utiliza como antiinflamatorio, descongestivo, tratar conjuntivitis, cólicos. Ambas especies son de amplio uso a nivel nacional, en Paraguay, e internacional, pero no se conocen bien sus posibles efectos secundarios sobre embriones de vertebrados. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar si los extractos acuosos de, Allophylus edulis y Matricaria recutita tienen efecto tóxico en embriones de Danio rerio. Se trataron embriones de 6 horas pos fecundación con diferentes concentraciones de cada extracto para determinar la toxicidad de los extractos acuosos de Allophylus edulis y Matricaria recutita. En los resultados obtenidos, ambos extractos presentaron efectos tóxicos significativos en los siguientes parámetros: ausencia de formación de somitas, de latidos cardiacos, de circulación sanguínea y de pigmentación. No se observó un efecto teratogénico significativo. Se concluye que los extractos acuosos de Allophylus edulis y Matricaria recutita resultaron tóxicos para embriones de Danio rerio, de manera dosis dependiente. (AU)

Medicinal plant Allophylus edulis is used to treat colds, catarrh, diabetes and the Matricaria recutita plant (chamomile) is used as an anti-inflammatory, decongestant, conjunctivitis treatment, and colic. Both species are widely used nationally in Paraguay, and internationally, but their possible side effects on vertebrate embryos are not well known. The objectives of this work were to evaluate whether the aqueous extracts of Allophylus edulis and Matricaria recutita have a toxic effect on Danio rerio embryos. Embryos 6 hours after its fertilization were treated with different concentrations of each extract to determine the toxicity of the aqueous extracts of Allophylus edulis and Matricaria recutita. In the results obtained, both extracts presented significant toxic effects on the following parameters: absence of somite formation, heartbeat, blood circulation and pigmentation. No significant teratogenic effect was observed. It is concluded that the aqueous extracts of Allophylus edulis and Matricaria recutita were toxic for Danio rerio embryos, in a dose dependent way. (AU)

Biosynthesis of α-Bisabolol by Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase and α-Bisabolol Synthase and Their Related Transcription Factors in Matricaria recutita L.

The essential oil of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) is widely used in food, cosmetics, and the pharmaceutical industry. α-Bisabolol is the main active substance in German chamomile. Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS) and α-bisabolol synthase (BBS) are key enzymes related to the α-bisabolol biosynthesis pathway. However, little is known about the α-bisabolol biosynthesis pathway in German chamomile, especially the transcription factors (TFs) related to the regulation of α-bisabolol synthesis. In this study, we identified MrFPS and MrBBS and investigated their functions by prokaryotic expression and expression in hairy root cells of German chamomile. The results suggest that MrFPS is the key enzyme in the production of sesquiterpenoids, and MrBBS catalyzes the reaction that produces α-bisabolol. Subcellular localization analysis showed that both MrFPS and MrBBS proteins were located in the cytosol. The expression levels of both MrFPS and MrBBS were highest in the extension period of ray florets. Furthermore, we cloned and analyzed the promoters of MrFPS and MrBBS. A large number of cis-acting elements related to light responsiveness, hormone response elements, and cis-regulatory elements that serve as putative binding sites for specific TFs in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses were identified. We identified and studied TFs related to MrFPS and MrBBS, including WRKY, AP2, and MYB. Our findings reveal the biosynthesis and regulation of α-bisabolol in German chamomile and provide novel insights for the production of α-bisabolol using synthetic biology methods.

Study of the mineral contents of Matricaria pubescens and Brocchia cinerea from Algeria.

Two species of plants commonly used for mainly their therapeutic values and available in some herbalists shops, namely: Brocchia cinerea and Matricaria pubescens that both belong to asteraceae family, and encountered mainly in the Algerian desert, have drawn attention in the scope of assessing their mineral contents, in fact minerals play an important role in the plant homeostasis and metabolism, on the other hand they may influence the health conditions mainly due to toxicity, and also the benefits that the plant consumer could have, the current study aimed to assess the contents of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, As, Na, K, Mg, P, S and SI, beside comparing the obtained results to other similar studies, the aerial parts of the plants are collected from several sites then mineralized and analyzed using ICP-AES and AAS, high levels of Na, K and Mg have been noted, on the other hands levels of metals were noted to be overall marginal, except for Al and Hg for the sample of Brocchia cinerea from El oued, the levels of As also seemed to be high in all the samples, inversely to the levels of S and P which seemed lower than those noted for other plants in paralleled studies, while that similar results were found for Zn, Fe, the chemical and geologic features of the soils may be the influencing factor. Additionally the current study may put first milestone for the establishment of national guidelines regarding the mineral contents of medicinal plants.

Development of Silver Nanoparticles Green-formulated by Matricaria Chamomilla as Novel Chemotherapeutic Nanoformulation for the Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

AIM: To develop modern chemotherapeutic nanoformulation from plant extract to treat oral squamous cell carcinoma. BACKGROUND: The use of biodegradable polymers to deliver drugs via nanoparticles solves a number of issues. AgNPs nanoparticle composites could be a promising material with applications in biological and pharmaceutical sciences. The biomolecules in the extract give the AgNPs additional stability against oxidation and corrosion. As a result, we are interested in reporting the synthesis, characterization, and uses of unique AgNPs decorated with Matricaria chamomilla extract. OBJECTIVE: We developed a natural chemotherapeutic nanoformulation containing M. chamomilla aqueous extract and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) were used to characterize AgNPs. The antioxidant activities of AgNO3, M. chamomilla, and AgNPs were evaluated using the DPPH assay in the presence of Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a positive control. The MTT assay was employed on the HSC-4, Ca9-22, and HSC-3 cell lines to assess the cytotoxicity and anti-oral squamous cell carcinoma effects. RESULTS: Silver nanoparticles demonstrated reduced cell viability and anti-oral squamous cell carcinoma capabilities in HSC-4, Ca9-22, and HSC-3 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, with minimal damage to the normal cell line. The HSC-3 cell line showed the strongest anti-oral squamous cell carcinoma characteristics of AgNPs when tested against the above cell lines. CONCLUSION: According to the findings, silver nanoparticles containing M. chamomilla aqueous extract may treat different forms of oral squamous cell carcinoma in people.

Antibacterial Efficacy of Matricaria recutita Essential Oil against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia: In Vitro Study.

AIM: To evaluate in vitro the antibacterial efficacy of Matricaria recutita (chamomile) essential oil at 50 and 75% against Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 and Prevotella intermedia ATCC 25611 at 24 and 48 hours. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 80 discs and Mueller-Hinton Agar, the medium chosen for the culture. To determine the bacterial sensitivity, discs were placed in each Petri dish with concentrations of essential oil at 50 and 75%, distilled water and 0.12% chlorhexidine. Subsequently, the inhibition halos were measured in millimeters at 24 and 48 hours after culture, with the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. RESULTS: In groups treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis, measurements at 24 and 48 hours yielded 22.14 ± 2.61 and 22.63 ± 2.67 mm for 0.12% chlorhexidine, 18.90 ± 0.41 and 19.22 ± 0.54 mm for 75% essential oil, and 15.55 ± 0.45 and 15.77 ± 0.46 mm for 50% essential oil, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed among the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: No significant differences were found between the antibacterial efficacy of 0.12% chlorhexidine and 50 and 75% essential oil of Matricaria recutita on Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia at 24 and 48 hours. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study demonstrates that essential oil derived from Matricaria recutita may effectively combat bacteria associated with periodontal disease. This discovery has the potential to impact dental practice by introducing a natural treatment option. Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the clinical significance and potential applications of this finding.