Comparative analysis of antioxidant, antimicrobiological and cytotoxic activities of native and fermented chamomile ligulate flower extracts

Impact of Fermentation on the Phytochemical Profile and Bioactivity Characteristics of Aqueous Matricaria recutita L. Root Extracts

While the flowers of Matricaria recutita L., German chamomile, are widely used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, little is known about its roots, which are used in complementary medicine for the preparation of aqueous fermented extracts for the treatment of cramps and anxiety. To broaden the understanding of the active principles involved, a model fermentation approach was developed and fermentates were compared to commercially manufactured tinctures. Coumarins and hydroxycinnamates were among the major secondary metabolites characterized using HPLC-MSn. After six months of fermentation and storage, low-molecular organic acids were detected by GC-MS. Fermentation contributed to the stabilization of antioxidant and radical scavenging activities, which were in a range of about 8-10 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight and 20-24 mg trolox equivalents/g dry weight, determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH assays, respectively. In addition, antibacterial activities of the extracts against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria increased during the first week of fermentation. Fermentates were neither cytotoxic nor pro- or anti-inflammatory. Thus, fermentation of chamomile roots is a suitable method for the safe production of biofunctional aqueous chamomile root extracts that remain stable without the addition of synthetic preservatives.

Wild Edible Flowers of Western Himalayas: Nutritional Characterization, UHPLC-QTOF-IMS-Based Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant Properties, and In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Polyphenols

Four edible flowers commonly consumed in the Western Himalayan region, namely, Bauhinia variegata (Kachnar), Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium), Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile), and Tagetes erecta (Marigold), were characterized for their nutritional and phytochemical composition. Through the UHPLC-QTOF-IMS-based metabolomics approach, 131 compounds were tentatively identified consisting of phenolic acids, flavonoid glycosides, terpenoids, amino acids, and fatty acid derivatives. Kaempferol and quercetin glycosides for Kachnar, apigenin glycosides and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives for Chamomile, patulin and quercetin derivatives for Marigold, cyanidin and delphinidin glycosides for Nasturtium were the predicted marker metabolites identified through non-targeted metabolomics. Kachnar and Chamomile scored best in terms of macronutrients and essential micronutrients, respectively. Nasturtium contained high concentrations of α-linolenic acid, anthocyanins, and lutein. Kachnar contained the highest total phenolic acids (63.36 ± 0.38 mg GAE g-1), while Marigold contained the highest total flavonoids (118.90 ± 1.30 mg QUE g-1). Marigolds possessed excellent free radical scavenging and metal chelation activities. Chamomile exhibited strong α-glucosidase inhibition activity, followed by Nasturtium. The in vitro gastrointestinal digestibility of flower extracts indicated that the bioaccessibility of phenolic acids was higher than that of flavonoids. Polyphenols from Nasturtium and Chamomile showed the highest bioaccessibility. The study is an attempt to characterize traditionally consumed edible flowers and promote their wider utilization in gastronomy and nutraceuticals.

Profiling of chemical constituents of Matricarla chamomilla L. by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS and in vivo evaluation its anti-asthmatic activity

Matricarla chamomilla L. is native to European countries and widely cultivated in China, especially in Xinjiang. It has been used in Uygur medicine for the treatment of cough caused by asthma. In this study, UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS was used to detect and identify the components from the active fraction of M. Chamomile, 64 compounds were identified by combining the standards, related literatures and mass spectrometry fragments, including 10 caffeoyl quinic acids, 38 flavonoids, 8 coumarins, 5 alkaloids and 3 other compounds. Furtherly, the anti-asthma activity of active fraction of M. Chamomile was investigated in OVA-induced allergic asthma rat model. The results showed that the number of EOS in Penh and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in the group of the active fraction of M. Chamomile was significantly lower than that in the model group. Besides, the active fraction of M. Chamomile can significantly reduce the IgE level and increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the serum of OVA-induced rats, and ameliorated OVA-induced lung injury. Hence, M. Chamomile could be used to treat asthma through their in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study explored the potential material basis of M. Chamomile for the treatment of asthma.

New Biological and Chemical Insights into Optimization of Chamomile Extracts by Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Model

Chamomile is one of the most consumed medicinal plants worldwide. Various chamomile preparations are widely used in various branches of both traditional and modern pharmacy. However, in order to obtain an extract with a high content of the desired components, it is necessary to optimize key extraction parameters. In the present study, optimization of process parameters was performed using the artificial neural networks (ANN) model using a solid-to-solvent ratio, microwave power and time as inputs, while the outputs were the yield of the total phenolic compounds (TPC). Optimized extraction conditions were as follows: a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:80, microwave power of 400 W, extraction time of 30 min. ANN predicted the content of the total phenolic compounds, which was later experimentally confirmed. The extract obtained under optimal conditions was characterized by rich composition and high biological activity. Additionally, chamomile extract showed promising properties as growth media for probiotics. The study could make a valuable scientific contribution to the application of modern statistical designs and modelling to improve extraction techniques.

Phytochemical Characterization of Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) Roots and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential

Matricaria recutita L., German chamomile, is one of the most widely used medicinal plants, whose efficacy has been proven in numerous studies. However, its roots have attracted only little interest so far, since mainly above-ground plant parts are used for medicinal purposes. To broaden the knowledge of chamomile roots, a profound phytochemical characterization was performed along with a bioactivity screening of corresponding root extracts. While volatile constituents such as chamomillol and polyynes were detected using GC-MS, HPLC-MSⁿ analyses revealed the occurrence of four coumarin glycosides, more than ten phenolic acid esters and five glyceroglycolipids. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated. Polar extracts revealed IC₅₀ values ranging from 13 to 57 µg/mL in the DPPH radical scavenging assay, which is in the same range as reported for chamomile flower extracts. In addition, superoxide radical scavenging potential and mild antibacterial effects against S. aureus und B. subtilis were demonstrated. Moreover, to assess interspecies variation in chamomile roots, extracts of M. recutita were compared to those of M. discoidea DC. Interestingly, the latter revealed stronger antioxidant activity. The presented results aim at the valorization of chamomile roots, previously discarded as by-product of chamomile flower production, as a sustainable source of bioactive phytochemicals.

Review On Documented Medicinal Plants Used For The Treatment Of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is a frightful disease and it is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Naturally derived compounds are gaining interest of research workers as they have less toxic side effects as compared to currently used treatments such as chemotherapy. Plants are the pool of chemical compounds which provides a promising future for research on cancer.

Objective:

This review paper provides updated information gathered on medicinal plants and isolated phytoconstituents used as anticancer agents and summarises the plant extracts and their isolated chemical constituents exhibiting anticancer potential on clinical trials.

Methods:

An extensive bibliographic investigation was carried out by analysing worldwide established scientific databases like SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Web of Science, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar etc. In next few decades, herbal medicine may become a new epoch of medical system.

Results:

Many researches are going on medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer but it is a time to increase further experimental studies on plant extracts and their chemical constituents to find out their mechanism of action at molecular level.

Conclusion:

The article may help many researchers to start off further experimentation that might lead to the drugs for the cancer treatment.

Integrated Phytochemical Analysis Based on UPLC-MS/MS and Network Pharmacology Approaches to Explore the Effect of Odontites vulgaris Moench on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Odontites vulgaris Moench has the effect of clearing away heat, detoxification, dispelling wind, and clearing dampness. In this study, the potential anti-inflammatory compounds of O. vulgaris were investigated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) combined with the network pharmacology approach and further confirmed on an LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophage model. Monomer compounds were prepared from the active fraction using modern advanced separation and purification methods. UPLC-Q-Exactive HRMS was used to identify the chemical compounds in the active fractions of O. vulgaris. D-mannitol, geniposidic acid, salidroside, shanzhiside methyl ester, eleutheroside B, geniposide, 7,8-dihydroxycoumarin, gardoside methyl ester, arenarioside, vanillic acid, p-hydroxy-cinnamic acid, melampyroside, syringaresinol, tricin, and diosmetin were isolated from O. vulgaris for the first time. A compound database of O. vulgaris was established based on the existing literature to predict the mechanism of O. vulgaris in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The results suggest that the PI3K-Akt pathway mediates O. vulgaris and deserves more attention in the treatment of RA. Finally, the anti-rheumatoid arthritis effects of the four target compounds were validated with the decreased levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells treated with LPS. The present study explored the potential targets and signaling pathways of O. vulgaris in the treatment of RA, which may help to illustrate the mechanisms involved in the action of O. vulgaris and may provide a better understanding of the relationship between O. vulgaris and RA. This study provides novel insights into the development of new drugs and utilization of Mongolian traditional Chinese medicine resources.

Synthesis, characteristics and medical applications of plant nanomaterials

The recent preparations of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts as reducing agents are summarized here. The synthesis and characterization of plant-metal nanomaterials and the progress in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medical applications are detailed, providing a new vision for plant-based medical applications. The medical application of plant-metal nanoparticles is becoming a research hotspot. Compared with traditional preparation methods, the synthesis of plant-metal nanoparticles is less toxic and more eco-friendly, increasing application potential. Highly efficient plant-metal nanoparticles are usually smaller than 100 nm. This review describes the synthesis, characterization and bioactivities of gold- and silver-plant nanoparticles as examples and clearly explained their antibacterial and anticancer mechanisms. An analysis of actual cases shows that the synthetic method and type of plant extract affect the activities of the products.

Efficiency comparison of apigenin-7-O-glucoside and trolox in antioxidative stress and anti-inflammatory properties

OBJECTIVES

Chamomile has long been used as a medicinal plant due to its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. Apigenin-7-O-glucoside (AG) is one of the major ethanol extract components from chamomile; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

METHODS

In this study, the antioxidant potential and the anti-inflammatory activities of AG were analysed and compared with those of trolox. We demonstrate the protective effects of AG on free radical-induced oxidative damage of DNA, proteins and erythrocytes. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect ROS production. Additionally, the expression of anti-oxidation-related and inflammation-related factors was detected by ELISA and Western blotting, respectively.

KEY FINDINGS

AG and trolox showed different efficiency as antioxidant in different experimental systems. AG had similar effect as trolox to inhibit H₂ O₂ -induced ROS production in RAW264.7 cells, while exerted stronger inhibition against free radical-induced oxidative damage on erythrocytes than trolox. Interestingly, compared with trolox, AG also had stronger inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NF-κB/NLRP3/caspase-1 signalling in RAW246.7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest the potential of AG as a pharmaceutical drug for anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation, and the combined usage of AG and trolox might promote its efficacy. Our findings will provide new insights into the development of new drugs with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory functions.

Efficacy of adjunctive therapy using Vizoovet in improving clinical signs of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical safety and efficacy of adjunctive therapy using Vizoovet to ameliorate clinical signs of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in dogs.

ANIMALS STUDIED

Twenty client-owned dogs.

PROCEDURES

Canine patients diagnosed with KCS were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients were randomly selected to receive either Vizoovet or GenTeal drops twice daily in addition to twice daily tacrolimus 0.03% solution. Data were collected from only one eye of each patient and included STT-1, IOP, TFBUT, and results of objective clinical scoring performed by pet owners. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ .05.

RESULTS

In all, 20 dogs (20 eyes) were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. Females (n = 12; 60%) outnumbered males (n = 8; 40%) and all dogs were spayed/neutered. Mean age of all dogs was 10.6 ± 3.79 years. In both treatment groups, the improvement in STT-1 values over the course of the study was significant (P = .002). When comparing the STT-1 improvements between groups, no significance was found (P = .78). In both groups, the improvement in TFBUT was significant (P = .0018). When comparing the TFBUT improvements between groups, no significance was found (P = .14). Squinting, rubbing, ocular discharge, and medication administration scores all significantly improved throughout the course of the study; however, they did not differ significantly between groups. Throughout the study, no adverse side effects were noted clinically or by the pet owner in either group.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Adjunctive treatment with Vizoovet was as safe and effective as GenTeal drops at improving clinical signs of dry eye in dogs.

Deciphering the microbiome shift during fermentation of medicinal plants

The importance of the human-microbiome relationship for positive health outcomes has become more apparent over the last decade. Influencing the gut microbiome via modification of diet represents a possibility of maintaining a healthy gut flora. Fermented food and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) display a preventive way to inhibit microbial dysbioses and diseases, but their ecology on plants is poorly understood. We characterized the microbiome of medicinal plants (Matricaria chamomilla L. and Calendula officinalis L.) using 16S rRNA gene profiling from leaves that were fermented over a six-week time course. The unfermented samples were characterized by a distinct phyllosphere microbiome, while the endosphere revealed a high similarity. During fermentation, significant microbial shifts were observed, whereby LAB were enhanced in all approaches but never numerically dominated. Among the LAB, Enterococcaceae were identified as the most dominant family in both plants. M. chamomilla community had higher relative abundances of Lactobacillaceae and Carnobacteriaceae, while C. officinalis showed a higher presence of Leuconostocaceae and Streptococcaceae. The natural leaf microbiome and the indigenous LAB communities of field-grown Asteraceae medicinal plants are plant-specific and habitat-specific and are subjected to significant shifts during fermentation. Leaf surfaces as well as leaf endospheres were identified as sources for biopreservative LAB.

Medicinal plants as therapeutic options for topical treatment in canine dermatology? A systematic review

Background

Medicinal plants have been used traditionally since centuries for wound care and treatment of skin diseases both in human and animals. Skin diseases are one of the most common reasons for owners to take their dog to the veterinarian. The demands for treatment and prophylaxis of these diseases are broad. A wide range of bacteria including antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be involved, making the treatment challenging and bear an anthropo-zoonotic potential. The aim of this review is to systematically evaluate based on recent scientific literature, the potential of four medicinal plants to enrich the therapeutic options in pyoderma, canine atopic dermatitis, otitis externa, wounds and dermatophytosis in dogs.

Results

Based on four books and a survey among veterinarians specialized in phytotherapy, four medicinal plants were chosen as the subject of this systematic review: Calendula officinalis L. (Marigold), Hypericum perforatum L. agg. (St. John’s Wort), Matricaria chamomilla L. (syn. Matricaria recutita L., Chamomile) and Salvia officinalis L. (Sage). According to the PRISMA statement through literature research on two online databases a total of 8295 publications was screened and narrowed down to a final 138 publications for which full-text documents were analyzed for its content resulting in a total of 145 references (21 clinical, 24 in vivo and 100 in vitro references).

Conclusions

All four plants were proven to have antibacterial and antifungal effects of a rather broad spectrum including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This makes them an interesting new option for the treatment of pyoderma, otitis externa, infected wounds and dermatophytosis. Marigold, St. John’s Wort and Chamomile showed wound-healing properties and are thus promising candidates in line to fill the therapeutic gap in canine wound-healing agents. St. John’s Wort and Chamomile also showed anti-inflammatory and other beneficial effects on healthy skin. Due to the wide range of beneficial effects of these medicinal plants, they should be taken into account for the treatment of dermatologic diseases in dogs at least in future clinical research.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-019-1854-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Chemo-Diversity and Antiradical Potential of Twelve Matricaria chamomilla L. Populations from Iran: Proof of Ecological Effects

Matricaria chamomilla L. is a popular medicinal herb that is used for healing various diseases and is widely distributed worldwide in temperate climate zones, and even in the subtropical climate of Southern and Western Iran. This study was aimed at comparing the volatile oil constituents, along with antiradical potential and HPLC analysis of methanolic extracts from twelve plant samples growing in Iran. The present research was carried out for the first time on these populations. Among seventeen identified volatile chemicals evaluated by GC/MS and GC/FID, representing 92.73–97.71% of the total oils, α-bisabolone oxide A (45.64–65.41%) was the major constituent, except in case of “Sarableh” as a new chemotype, where (E)- and (Z)-γ-bisabolene (42.76 and 40.08%, respectively) were the predominant components. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (53.31–74.52%) were the most abundant compounds in the samples excluding “Sarableh” with 91.3% sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. “Sarableh” also exerted the most potent antioxidant capacity with EC₅₀ = 7.76 ± 0.3 µg/mL and 6.51 ± 0.63 mmol TE (Trolox^® equivalents)/g. In addition, populations “Lali” and “Bagh Malek” contained the highest amounts of apigenin and luteolin with 1.19 ± 0.01 mg/g and 2.20 ± 0.0 mg/g of plant material, respectively. Our findings depict a clear correlation between phytochemical profiles and antiradical potential of M. chamomilla and geographical factors.

Botanical Therapeutics: Phytochemical Screening and Biological Assessment of Chamomile, Parsley and Celery Extracts against A375 Human Melanoma and Dendritic Cells

Chamomile, parsley, and celery represent major botanical sources of apigenin, a well-known flavone with chemopreventive properties. The aim of this study was to assess the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory potential of methanol extracts obtained from chamomile, parsley, and celery collected from Romania, as well as the biological activity against A375 human melanoma and human dendritic cells. Results have shown that all three extracts are rich in polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids, and they generate a radical scavenger capacity, iron chelation potential, as well as lipoxygenase inhibition capacity. Chamomile and celery extracts present weak antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic properties in the set experimental conditions, while parsley extract draws out significant pro-apoptotic potential against A375 human melanoma cells. Parsley and chamomile extracts affected the fibroblast-like morphology of the screened tumor cell line. On the other hand, chamomile and celery extracts abrogated the expansion of LPS-activated dendritic cells, while the metabolic activity was attenuated by stimulation with celery extract; chamomile and parsley extracts had no effect upon this parameter. Chamomile and parsley extracts incubation with naive dendritic cells did not trigger cytokine secretion (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10), but celery extract stimulation significantly reduced the anti-inflammatory, cytokine IL-10.

Comparative in vitro studies of the biological potential and chemical composition of stems, leaves and berries Aronia melanocarpa's extracts obtained by subcritical water extraction

Preparation of functional products as well as natural-based products requires non-toxic but effective extraction techniques. In this study, subcritical water extraction was used for the extraction of different aronia parts in order to explore their potential. Stems, leaves and berries of Aronia melanocarpa were extracted under the following conditions: temperature 130 °C; pressure 35 bar; time 20 min. The total phenols and flavonoid contents of the produced extracts were evaluated by conventional spectrophotometric methods. Additionally, the main phenolic compounds were also identified and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The biological potential of the extracts was evaluated by determining their antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS and lipid peroxidation assays), antimicrobial, enzyme inhibitory (cholinesterase and elastase) and cytotoxic effects (HeLa, A-549, LS-174T, MRC-5 cell lines). The results indicate that leaves and berries extracts exhibited stronger antioxidant action when compared with stems. The strongest cholinesterase and elastase inhibitory activity was also found in berries extract. Similarly, the extracts obtained from leaves and berries showed considerable cytotoxic effects against tested cell lines. A moderate antimicrobial effects was observed too. Demonstrated biological potential of all three aronia parts can trace a new road map for developing newly designed functional products.

Natural products chemistry: The emerging trends and prospective goals

The role and contributions of natural products chemistry in advancements of the physical and biological sciences, its interdisciplinary domains, and emerging of new avenues by providing novel applications, constructive inputs, thrust, comprehensive understanding, broad perspective, and a new vision for future is outlined. The developmental prospects in bio-medical, health, nutrition, and other interrelated sciences along with some of the emerging trends in the subject area are also discussed as part of the current review of the basic and core developments, innovation in techniques, advances in methodology, and possible applications with their effects on the sciences in general and natural products chemistry in particular. The overview of the progress and ongoing developments in broader areas of the natural products chemistry discipline, its role and concurrent economic and scientific implications, contemporary objectives, future prospects as well as impending goals are also outlined. A look at the natural products chemistry in providing scientific progress in various disciplines is deliberated upon.

Matricaria genus as a source of antimicrobial agents: From farm to pharmacy and food applications

Matricaria is a widespread genus of flowering plants of the family Asteraceae that grow in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Some of the species are also naturalized in Australia. Some species of this genus such as Chamomiles are recognized medicinal plants and cultivated in several countries for commercial purposes: to obtain its blue essence, as herbal tea, and for pharmaceutical or cosmeceutical uses. The phytochemical composition of Matricaria spp. includes volatile terpenoids (e.g., α-bisabolol, bisabolol oxide A and B, β-trans-farnesene and chamazulene), sesquiterpene lactones such as matricin, and phenolic compounds (flavonoids, coumarins and phenolic acids). Their essential oil is obtained from the fresh or dried inflorescences by steam distillation, and additionally cohobation of the remaining water. The volatile composition of the essential oil, especially the content of the valuable components α-bisabolol and chamazulene, depends on the plant part, origin and quality of the source, genetic, and environmental factors. Moreover, other parameters, such as season of harvest and methods of extraction, can affect the extraction yield of the essential oils/extracts, their composition and, therefore, their bioactivity. Due to the importance of this genus and particularly M. recutita (M. chamomilla), this review focus on its cultivation, factor affecting essential oils' composition and their role in traditional medicine, as antibacterial agents and finally as food preservatives.

Subcritical water extraction as a cutting edge technology for the extraction of bioactive compounds from chamomile: Influence of pressure on chemical composition and bioactivity of extracts

The study was designed to determine the relationship between chemical structure, bioactivity and pressure during the subcritical water extraction (SCW) of chamomile. Extraction was carried out at isothermal conditions (100 °C) at five different pressures (10, 30, 45, 60 and 90 bar). Twenty three polyphenolic compounds were identified in the extracts, whereby apigenin was found to be the dominant compound (61.53-1344.99 mg/kg). Results suggest that the lowest applied pressure has negligible effect on phenolic recovery from chamomile, but also the use of pressures above than 45 bar was proven as needlessly. By using in vitro assays, influence of pressure on antioxidant, cytotoxic and enzyme-inhibitory activities of the extracts was evaluated. Extracts obtained at 30, 45 and 60 bar exhibited stronger bioactivities than at 10 and 90 bar. It was concluded that pressure exert a significant influence on chemical composition of extracts, and thus on biological activity of chamomile extracts.

Improved antioxidative and cytotoxic activities of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) florets fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum KCCM 11613P

Antioxidative and cytotoxic effects of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum were investigated to improve their biofunctional activities. Total polyphenol (TP) content was measured by the Folin-Denis method, and the antioxidant activities were assessed by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and β-carotene bleaching method. AGS, HeLa, LoVo, MCF-7, and MRC-5 (normal) cells were used to examine the cytotoxic effects by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. The TP content of fermented chamomile reduced from 21.75 to 18.76 mg gallic acid equivalent (mg GAE)/g, but the DPPH radical capturing activity of fermented chamomile was found to be 11.1% higher than that of nonfermented chamomile after 72 h of fermentation. Following the β-carotene bleaching, the antioxidative effect decreased because of a reduction in pH during fermentation. Additionally, chamomile fermented for 72 h showed a cytotoxic effect of about 95% against cancer cells at 12.7 mg solid/ml of broth, but MRC-5 cells were significantly less sensitive against fermented chamomile samples. These results suggest that the fermentation of chamomile could be applied to develop natural antioxidative and anticancer products.