Natural products represent a rich source of biologically active compounds and are an example of molecular diversity, with recognized potential in drug discovery. Herein, methanol extract of Matricaria recutita L. (German chamomile) and its decoction and infusion (the most consumed preparations of this herb) were submitted to an analysis of phytochemicals and bioactivity evaluation. The antioxidant activity was determined by free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and inhibition of lipid peroxidation; the antitumour potential was tested in human tumour cell lines (breast, lung, colon, cervical and hepatocellular carcinomas), and the hepatotoxicity was evaluated using a porcine liver primary cell culture (non-tumour cells). All the samples revealed antioxidant properties. Decoction had no antitumour activity (GI50>400 µg/mL) which could indicate that this bioactivity might be related to compounds (including phenolic compounds) that were not extracted or that were affected by the decoction procedure. Both plant methanol extract and infusion showed inhibitory activity of the growth of HCT-15 (GI50 250.24 and 298.23 µg/mL, respectively) and HeLa (GI50 259.36 and 277.67 µg/mL, respectively) cell lines, without hepatotoxicity (GI50>400 µg/mL). Infusion and decoction gave higher contents of organic acids (24.42 and 23.35 g/100 g dw). Otherwise, the plant methanol extract presented the highest amounts of phenolic acids (3.99 g/100 g dw) and flavonoids (2.59 g/100 g dw). The major compound found in all the preparations was luteolin O-acylhexoside. Overall, German chamomile contains important phytochemicals with bioactive properties (mainly antitumour potential selective to colon and cervical carcinoma cell lines) to be explored in the medicine, food, and cosmetic industries.
project PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011 for financial support to CIMO. R. Guimarães, L. Barros and R. Calhelha thanks to FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE for their grants (SFRH/BD/78307/2011, SFRH/BPD/4609/2008 and SFRH/BPD/68344/2010). The GIP-USAL is financially supported by the Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Programme (FUN-C-FOOD, CSD2007-00063). M. Dueñas thanks the Spanish “Ramón y Cajal” Programme for a contract.
