Called “Juhua” in Chinese, Chinese chamomile is far from being just a decorative flower. Used for over three thousand years in traditional Asian medicine, this plant is now the subject of in-depth scientific investigations that validate some of its ancestral properties while revealing previously unsuspected mechanisms of action.
Exceptional antioxidant compounds measured in the laboratory
A chemical analysis published in 2019 on seventeen commercial chrysanthemum teas revealed the extraordinary richness of this plant in phenolic compounds. The hot aqueous extract of a specific cultivar reached a total polyphenol content of 12.72 milligrams of gallic acid equivalents per gram. Its oxygen radical scavenging capacity (ORAC) was 1222.50 micromoles of Trolox equivalents per gram, a remarkable score for a medicinal plant.
Researchers have identified several previously unknown compounds in certain varieties for the first time. Mass spectrometry analysis detected 6,8-C,C-diglucosylapigenin and eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside in snow chrysanthemum, as well as acetylmarein in the Hangju, Gongju, and Huaiju varieties. This complex phytochemical composition largely explains the observed biological properties.
Cardiovascular protection demonstrated in human cells
Chinese chamomile
A Taiwanese study published in 2010 in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology evaluated the effects of Chinese chamomile extract on human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to oxidized LDL, a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. The results showed that both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts significantly reduced the expression of two cell adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and E-selectin, which are involved in vascular inflammation.
The researchers demonstrated that this protective effect is due to modulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which is crucial in regulating endothelial inflammation. The flavonoids apigenin and luteolin, abundant in the plant, contribute directly to this effect. This finding supports the traditional use of Chinese chamomile for maintaining cardiovascular health.
Neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia
A Chinese study published in 2023 in Brain Injury explored the neuroprotective effects of Chrysanthemum morifolium extract in a model of ischemic stroke. In rat hippocampal neurons subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation (simulating a stroke), the extract significantly improved cell viability and reduced apoptosis.
The mechanisms involved are multiple. The extract decreases the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduces malondialdehyde content (a marker of lipid peroxidation), and increases the activity of superoxide dismutase, a major antioxidant enzyme. Even more fascinating, the researchers identified that these effects are mediated by the activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway, a master regulator of the cellular antioxidant response.
Anti-inflammatory properties validated in vitro
The 2019 study on chrysanthemum teas also evaluated their anti-inflammatory properties on cultured cells. All the hot aqueous extracts tested suppressed the expression of messenger RNAs for interleukin-6, IL-1β, and cyclooxygenase-2, three major pro-inflammatory mediators induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharides.
Research combining Chinese chamomile and goji berry, published in Food Research International in 2019, demonstrated a fascinating synergistic effect. The equal-parts (1:1) mixture of the two plants inactivated the MAPK (ERK and JNK) pathways as well as NF-κB, central signaling cascades in inflammation. The scientists attributed these effects to three main compounds in chrysanthemum: acacetin-7-O-rutinoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and chlorogenic acid.
Protection Against Chemotherapy Cardiotoxicity
A Japanese discovery published in 2022 in Cancers reveals an unexpected therapeutic potential. Purple chrysanthemum flower extract protects heart cells from the toxicity induced by doxorubicin, an anthracycline chemotherapy drug notorious for its serious cardiac side effects.
In cultured H9C2 heart cells and primary cardiomyocytes, pretreatment with one milligram per milliliter of Chinese chamomile extract significantly reduces doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. The TUNEL assay confirms a marked decrease in programmed cell death. Crucially, this protective effect is observed only in heart cells, not in the cancer cells tested (MDA-MB-231, H1299, HT29), thus preserving the anticancer efficacy of the treatment.
Anti-glycation activity to prevent diabetic complications
A 2023 study published in Food Research International investigated the ability of Chrysanthemum morifolium and Chrysanthemum indicum extracts to inhibit protein glycation, a process implicated in diabetic complications and cataract formation. Researchers used a fructose-induced alpha-A-crystalline glycation model.
The aqueous extracts significantly inhibited the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and protein oxidation products (dityrosine, kynurenine, N’-methylkynurenine). The inhibitory effect was concentration-dependent. Interestingly, Chrysanthemum indicum exhibited greater antiglycation potential than Chrysanthemum morifolium, suggesting slightly different activity profiles between the two species.
- Reassuring Safety Profile
- A toxicological study conducted on rats and published in 2010 in the Journal of Food Science assessed the safety of the ethanolic extract of Chrysanthemum morifolium. No significant toxicity was observed at the tested doses. A 2024 review analyzing the literature from 2008 to 2022 confirms the absence of adverse effects following oral administration of the extracts in vivo in preclinical studies.
- The only precautions concern individuals allergic to Asteraceae and the potential interaction with certain drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450, although this risk remains theoretical and not clinically documented. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies Chinese chamomile among “cold” (yin) foods and advises against its excessive consumption by individuals with a cold constitution or digestive disorders.
- Clinical Perspectives
- Despite an abundance of encouraging preclinical studies, research on Chinese chamomile suffers from a lack of rigorous clinical trials in humans. Most studies remain in vitro or conducted on animal models. Existing clinical studies, predominantly Chinese, often have methodological limitations: small sample sizes, lack of randomization, or an adequate placebo group.
- Standardizing extracts is also problematic. Phytochemical composition varies considerably depending on the growing region, harvest time, cultivar, and extraction methods. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to compare studies and determine precise therapeutic dosages.
- Nevertheless, the convergence of results across dozens of independent studies paints a coherent picture. Chinese chamomile undoubtedly possesses measurable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. Its mechanisms of action involve the modulation of well-identified cellular signaling pathways. This justifies its age-old status in Asian pharmacopoeia, while also calling for more rigorous clinical investigations to precisely define its therapeutic applications.
