Determination of total polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids in Matricaria chamomilla flowers

Abstract

Matricaria chamomilla is of medicinal importance and has been used for its various pharmacological activities against different diseases due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds especially flavonoids and their glycosides. Flowers of the chamomile plant were studied for the quantification of total polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids aglycon. Total polyphenolic compounds obtained were 83.22mg as gallic acid equivalents/g of plant material; while for the determination of flavonoids aglycon the plant material was subjected to acid hydrolysis before quantification through HPLC-PDA. Results showed that luteolin, quercetin, apigenin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol were quantified. Apigenin was found in highest concentration (0.071mg/ml) while amounts of the rest of the flavonoids quantified are: luteolin (0.012mg/ml), quercetin (0.032mg/ml), kaempferol (0.001mg/ml) and isorhamnetin (0.023 mg/ml).