A review of antibacterial properties of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), a comprehensive study

Antibacterial properties of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) have long beenrecognized due to its widespread usage in herbal medicine. This review articlesummarizes recent research on the antibacterial activity of chamomile extractsagainst various bacterial species. Several studies demonstrate that chamomilepossesses potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, such asStaphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Bacillus subtilis. Its efficacyextends to Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi,and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Moreover, chamomile exhibits synergistic effectswhen combined with conventional antibiotics, suggesting its potential as anadjuvant therapy. The antibacterial action of chamomile is attributed to itsflavonoids, terpenoids, and volatile oils, particularly apigenin, quercetin, luteolin,and bisabolol. Furthermore, chamomile shows no cytotoxicity or genotoxicity,indicating its safety profile. Therefore, chamomile could serve as a safe alternativeto synthetic antibiotics, especially in cases where resistance is emerging. Inconclusion, chamomile displays strong antibacterial properties against a widerange of bacterial species. Its non-cytotoxic nature makes it a suitable candidatefor developing novel therapeutic agents. Further research is needed to elucidatethe exact mechanisms behind its antibacterial activity and to establishstandardized dosage regimes for clinical use.