 |
Chamomile
Botanical Name: Matricaria chamomilla
Family: Asteraceae
Description
The branched stem is erect and smooth and grows to a height of 15-60 cm. The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate.
The flowers are borne in paniculate capitula. The white ray florets are furnished with a ligule, while the disc florets are yellow. The hollow receptacle is swollen and lacks scales. The flowers have a strong, aromatic smell, and bloom in early to mid summer.
Parts Used: Flower
Distribution: Cultivated throughout plain area of Nepal.
Method of Extraction: Steam Distillation
| Specification of German Camomile |
| 1. Organoleptic Properties |
| Appearance |
Viscous liquid |
| Color |
Deep Blue |
| Aroma |
Intensely sweet, herbaceous-cournarin-like with a fresh-fruity undertone |
| 2. Physico-chemical Properties |
| Specific gravity |
0.8995 to 0.9128 at 25° C |
| Optical rotation |
N/A |
| Refractive index |
1.480 to 1.5055 at 25° C |
| Acid number |
4 to 15.70 |
| Ester number |
5 to 15 |
| Ester number after acetylation |
65 to 110 |
| Solubility |
Soluble in 90% alcohol with separation of paraffins |
3. Chemical constituent
Bisabolol, Farnesol, Azulene, Farnasene, Thujanol |
4. Uses:
Chamomile is used medicinally against sore stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, and as a gentle sleep aid. It can be taken as an herbal tea. It is also used cosmetically
|
|
|
|
|
|
