Botanical name Anthemis nobilis L
Botanical synonym Anthemis nobilis L.
Family Asteraceae
Source Flowers
Origin United Kingdom
Processing Method Steam Distillation
Color/Consistency A thin light bluish to yellow liquid.
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma A strong middle note, Roman Chamomile has a fragrance like apples and sweet straw, and is considered the finest smelling of all chamomiles.
Blends With Bergamot, Clary Sage, Lavender, Geranium, Jasmine, Neroli, Patchouli, Tea Tree, Rose, lemon and Ylang-Ylang.
Product Abstract
The charming Chamaemelum nobile flowers, with white petals and deep yellow centers, create a stunning, blue essential oil that is warm, slightly fruity, and sweet. Roman chamomile essential oil is highly valued for its potential to ease muscle spasms, like those that often come with a monthly cycle. This oil is also helpful when looking to reduce minor pain and inflammation or when seeking assistance in quieting an upset stomach. Emotionally and energetically, Roman chamomile essential oil is profoundly calming and a lovely choice when looking for sleep support or wanting to quiet an anxious mind that is perhaps overthinking and worrying excessively.
History
The double variety (cultivar) is the main source of the commercial drug today, and has been certainly known since the 18th century; it is sterile, and is propagated vegetatively by suckering.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
Our certified organic Roman chamomile essential oil is steam distilled from delicate Roman chamomile flowers grown in the rolling, green English countryside. We love putting this oil into a blend for ushering deep sleep as it is pleasantly sedative, and, so welcome during times of situational anxiety or depression.
Common Usage
Caution
Dilute before use; for external use only. May cause skin irritation in some individuals, and should be avoided by those allergic to ragweed; a skin test is recommended prior to use. Contact with eyes should be avoided.
Key constituents
Isobutyl angelate 0–37.4%
Butyl angelate 0–34.9%
3-Methylpentyl angelate 0–22.7%
Isobutyl butyrate 0–20.5%
Isoamyl angelate 8.4–17.9%
2-Methyl-2-propenyl angelate 0–13.1%
3-Methylpentyl isobutyrate 0–12.5%
2-Methyl-2-propyl angelate 0–7.4%
Camphene 0–6.0%
Borneol 0–5.0%
a-Pinene 1.1–4.5%
a-Terpinene 0–4.5%
Chamazulene 0–4.4%
(E)-Pinocarveol 0–4.4%
a-Thujene 0–4.1%
Hexyl butyrate 0–3.9%
Terpinolene 0–3.9%
Isobutyl isobutyrate 0–3.7%
Anthemol 0–3.2%
g-Terpinene 0–3.2%
Isoamyl isobutyrate 0–3.1%
d-3-Carene 0–2.8%
Isoamyl 2-methylbutyrate 0–2.8%
2-Methylbutyl 2-methylbutyrate 0–2.7%
Isoamyl butyrate 0–2.6%
Pinocarvone 0–2.4%
b-Myrcene 0–2.1%
p-Cymene 0–2.0%
b-Pinene 0.2–1.6%
Isoamyl methacrylate 0–1.5%
b-Phellandrene 0–1.4%
Propyl angelate 0–1.1%
Quality Roman chamomile oil is prone to oxidation, and should be stored in light-tight, cold conditions. May be adulterated
with isobutyl angelate and bisabolols.
Safety summary
Hazards None known.
Contraindications None known
Regulatory guidelines
Has GRAS status. In a 2003 report, JECFA stated that the committee had “no safety concern” about isobutyl angelate, based on current intake as a food flavoring.
Organ-specific effects
Adverse skin reactions In a 48 hour occlusive patch test on 50 Italian volunteers, undiluted chamomile oil produced no adverse reactions. When similarly tested at 5%, it produced one reaction in 290 eczema patients. Undiluted Roman chamomile oil was moderately irritating to rabbits, but was not irritating to mice; tested at 4% on 25 volunteers it was neither irritating nor sensitizing. It is non-phototoxic.
Urinary effect Administration of 350 mg/kg of Roman chamomile oil to rats by sc or ip injection resulted in decreases in water elimination from 93.04% to 46.85% and 28.10% of the water administered. The major constituents of this oil were butyl angelate and isoamyl angelate. Nothing meaningful can be extrapolated from the massive dose used he .
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity Roman chamomile oil acute oral LD50 in rats >5 g/kg; acute dermal LD50 in rabbits >5 g/kg.
Antioxidant/pro-oxidant activity Roman chamomile oil showed moderate antioxidant activity as a DPPH radical scavenger and low activity in the aldehyde/carboxylic acid assay.
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential Roman chamomile oil was not mutagenic in either a Bacillus subtilis rec-assay or an Ames test. Chamomile oil significantly induced glutathione-S-transferase activity in mouse tissues. Roman chamomile oil contains no known carcinogens.
Comments
There is wide variation in the reported constituents of Roman chamomile oil, although the majority of the oil always consists of angelate and butyrate esters. On the basis of current knowledge, unlikely to present any hazard in aromatherapy.
