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Compiled from 28 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family used traditionally for its anti-inflammatory, sedative, and antimicrobial properties [PMID:36615326, 40006854].
Background
Chamaemelum nobile, also known as Roman chamomile, is a medicinal plant widely cultivated across Europe, Northwest Asia, North America, and Africa [PMID:38540360]. It is one of two primary chamomile species used therapeutically, alongside German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) [PMID:36297396].
Traditional uses
It has been used for thousands of years in Greece, Rome, and ancient Egypt to treat stomach problems, cramps, dermatitis, and minor infections [PMID:36615326]. It is used orally as a sedative and for gastrointestinal conditions, topically for wound healing, and in some regions for ophthalmological problems [PMID:30000867, 27269391]. It has also been used as a galactogogue and in culinary applications [PMID:30000867, 33683253].
Active compounds
The plant contains flavonoids, coumarins, volatile oils, terpenes, organic acids, and polysaccharides [PMID:36615326]. Specific constituents include sesquiterpenes (e.g., bisabolol, farnesene), sesquiterpene lactones (e.g., nobilin), and esters such as 3-methylpentyl angelate [PMID:30000867, 40006854, 36076410].
Mechanism of action
Anti-inflammatory effects may involve increasing NAG-1 activity and inhibiting ROS generation [PMID:24471493]. In anxiety treatment, it may act via multi-target pathways including neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, serotonin synapse, and cAMP signaling, potentially involving the LRRK2 protein [PMID:33152801]. It also demonstrates in vitro vasorelaxant effects on rat aortic rings [PMID:22866985].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DWound Infection (P. aeruginosa)
A 5% C. nobile ointment showed antimicrobial and wound healing properties in male rats [PMID:28034365].
Evidence DBronchial Inflammation
Aqueous extracts in OVA-sensitized rats improved MDA levels and reduced IL-4 and inflammatory cell infiltration [PMID:37807304].
Inhalation of Roman chamomile essential oil combined with clomipramine attenuated depression-like behavior in stressed mice [PMID:31369988].
Safety & adverse effects
Roman chamomile is suspected of being a potential sensitizer that can elicit allergic plant contact dermatitis, although evidence for this specific species is largely anecdotal [PMID:12492516].
Pregnancy & lactation
It has been used as a galactogogue, but no scientifically valid clinical trials support this use [PMID:30000867].
Evidence summary
The current evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies, animal models, and literature reviews; there is a lack of high-level clinical trial data (Level A or B) specifically for Roman chamomile.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 36615326 (2022) — Chamomile: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological Activities and Quality Control Studies. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2.PMID: 36297396 (2022) — A Comprehensive Study of Therapeutic Applications of Chamomile. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3.PMID: 30000867 (2006) — Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. · Molecular medicine reports
4.PMID: 36076410 (2022) — Valorisation of Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile L.) herb by comprehensive evaluation of hydrodistilled aroma and residual non-volatile fractions. · Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
— High-Quality Assembly and Analysis of the Complete Mitogenomes of German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).
· Genes
6.PMID: 28034365 (2018) — In vivo Antibacterial and Wound Healing Activities of Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). · Infectious disorders drug targets
7.PMID: 31706023 (2020) — Analysis of terpenoid biosynthesis pathways in German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) based on co-expression networks. · Genomics
8.PMID: 35937529 (2022) — Intergeneric hybridization of marguerite (Argyranthemum frutescens (L.) Sch. Bip.) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All.) using ovule culture and confirmation of hybridity. · Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)
10.PMID: 37807304 (2023) — In-vivo anti-inflammatory effects of Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) aqueous extracts collected from the National Park of El-Kala (North-East, Algeria). · Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
11.PMID: 24471493 (2014) — Octulosonic acid derivatives from Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) with activities against inflammation and metabolic disorder. · Journal of natural products
12.PMID: 32070270 (2020) — Phytochemical and comparative transcriptome analyses reveal different regulatory mechanisms in the terpenoid biosynthesis pathways between Matricaria recutita L. and Chamaemelum nobile L. · BMC genomics
13.PMID: 28228817 (2016) — Mitochondrial Apoptosis Induced by Chamaemelum Nobile Extract in Breast Cancer Cells. · Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
14.PMID: 30430213 (2019) — De novo assembly and comparative transcriptome analysis: novel insights into terpenoid biosynthesis in Chamaemelum nobile L. · Plant cell reports
15.PMID: 38267710 (2024) — Laboratory assessment of the acaricidal, repellent and anti-cholinesterase effects of Melaleuca alternifolia and Chamaemelum nobile essential oils against Hyalomma scupense ticks. · Veterinary research communications
16.PMID: 40006854 (2025) — Phytochemical Investigation of Chamaemelum nobile L. and Evaluation of Acetylcholinesterase and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
17.PMID: 33246119 (2021) — Effects of Salvia officinalis L. and Chamaemelum nobile (L.) extracts on inflammatory responses in two models of human cells: Primary subcutaneous adipocytes and neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-SH). · Journal of ethnopharmacology
18.PMID: 27005600 (2016) — Cloning, Expression Profiling and Functional Analysis of CnHMGS, a Gene Encoding 3-hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Synthase from Chamaemelum nobile. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
19.PMID: 26312934 (2015) — Antibacterial, anti-swarming and anti-biofilm formation activities of Chamaemelum nobile against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. · Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
20.PMID: 12492516 (2002) — Contact sensitization from Compositae-containing herbal remedies and cosmetics. · Contact dermatitis
21.PMID: 41204638 (2025) — Impact of Solar Drying Techniques on Bioactive Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile L.). · Journal of food science
22.PMID: 37107083 (2023) — Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Six Aromatic Medicinal Plants with Cosmetic Properties. · Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
23.PMID: 33683253 (2021) — Traditional plants from Asteraceae family as potential candidates for functional food industry. · Food & function
24.PMID: 27269391 (2016) — Medicinal plants used for ophthalmological problems in Navarra (Spain). · Journal of ethnopharmacology
25.PMID: 33152801 (2021) — Action mechanism of Roman chamomile in the treatment of anxiety disorder based on network pharmacology. · Journal of food biochemistry
26.PMID: 31369988 (2019) — Roman chamomile inhalation combined with clomipramine treatment improves treatment-resistant depression-like behavior in mice. · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
27.PMID: 22866985 (2013) — Vascular effects of aqueous extract of Chamaemelum nobile: in vitro pharmacological studies in rats. · Clinical and experimental hypertension (New York, N.Y. : 1993)