Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Different Potencies  of Matricaria chamomilla L. Essential Oil

Bernadiene Lee Pei Yi; Mahani Mahadi; Syarifah Syafiqah binti Syed Mustafa

Bernadiene Lee Pei Yi Deparment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya
Mahani Mahadi Deparment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya
Syarifah Syafiqah binti Syed Mustafa Deparment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya

Keywords: Antioxidant, German Chamomile, Homeopathic medicine

Abstract

Homeopathic medicines are medicinal substances that undergo serial dilution or
potentization before being administered as the final product. Potencies 12C and above are
indicated as ultra-high potencies and are administered according to clinical indication. Several
homeopathic treatments have therapeutic effects on diseases associated with chronic
inflammation. Matricaria chamomilla, or German Chamomile is a homeopathic remedy
indicated for various inflammatory conditions such as infantile colic and teething pain. Studies
have shown that M. chamomilla possesses chemical constituents that have antioxidant activity.
This study aims to investigate the phytochemical compounds and the antioxidant properties of
different potencies of M. chamomilla essential oil. Phytochemical screening was performed on
M. chamomilla essential oil in different potentization: mother tincture, 6C, 30C and 200C.
Meanwhile, antioxidant activity of M. chamomilla essential oil in mother tincture, 6C, 30C and
200C were assessed via DPPH and CUPRAC assay. The total phenolic content and total
flavonoid content were carried out to investigate the connection between their antioxidant
activities and the phytochemical compound present. The phytochemical screening revealed that
only M. chamomilla mother tincture contains reducing sugars, phenolic compounds,
flavonoids, tannins, saponins, quinones and cardiac glycosides. M. chamomilla potency 6C,
30C and 200C tested negative for all phytochemical screening tests. M. chamomilla essential
oil mother tincture revealed higher results of total phenolic content of 87.65±32.10 mg GAE/g,
total flavonoid contents of 23.23±10.81 mg QE/g, DPPH radical scavenging activity of
52.19±12.60% and CUPRAC Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity of 224.17±88.5 mg TE/g
whereas among its potency 6C, 30C and 200C showed lower and constant results. In
conclusion, M. chamomilla essential oil mother tincture and its 6C, 30C and 200C potencies
have mild antioxidant activity.