Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Field Identification of Matricaria chamomilla using a Portable qPCR System
Published on: October 10, 2020
The influence of conjugates isolated from Matricaria chamomilla L. on platelets activity and cytotoxicity
Michał Bijak1, Joanna Saluk, Marta Tsirigotis-Maniecka
1Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland; Regional Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw, Research and Development Centre, H.M. Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-124 Wroclaw, Poland.
Insights
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) extracts, containing polysaccharide-polyphenolic conjugates (MC), significantly reduce blood platelet aggregation in healthy individuals and cardiovascular patients. These compounds show no cytotoxicity, suggesting potential as novel anti-platelet agents.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of mortality globally.
- Blood platelets play a crucial role in atherosclerosis and thrombosis, key processes in CVD.
- Platelet aggregation is a critical event in unstable coronary syndromes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-platelet activity of polysaccharide-polyphenolic conjugates from Matricaria chamomilla L. (MC).
- To evaluate the effect of MC on platelet aggregation induced by various agonists.
- To assess the cytotoxicity of MC on human and mouse cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from healthy donors and CVD patients was treated with varying concentrations of MC.
- Platelet aggregation was induced using adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, and arachidonic acid.
- Cytotoxicity was assessed using L929 mouse fibroblast and A549 human lung cell lines.
Main Results:
- MC demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation in healthy donors.
- MC reduced platelet aggregation in patients with cardiovascular disorders.
- No cytotoxic effects were observed for MC on L929 and A549 cell lines at tested concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Polysaccharide-polyphenolic conjugates from Matricaria chamomilla L. possess significant anti-platelet properties.
- MC exhibits a favorable safety profile, with no observed cytotoxicity.
- These findings suggest MC as a promising candidate for developing new anti-platelet therapies as an alternative to existing drugs.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the principal cause of death in both advanced and developing countries of the world. Blood platelets are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Platelet adhesion and aggregation are critical events that occur in unstable coronary syndromes. The current research is focused on the role of polysaccharide-polyphenolic conjugates isolated from chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) at concentrations of 10, 25, 50 and 100 μg/mL on blood platelets (obtained from healthy donors and from patients received combined anti-platelet therapy complex with clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid) aggregation and experimentally induced cell toxicity. The treatment of PRP obtained from healthy donors with polyphenolic-polysaccharide conjugates from M. chamomilla (L.) (MC) resulted in a dose-dependent, decrease of platelet aggregation induced by multiple agonists (ADP, collagen and arachidonic acid). In this study we also observed that the MC reduced platelet aggregation in PRP obtained from patients with cardiovascular disorders. The result of testing the MC on human blood platelets, mouse fibroblast cultures L929 and human lung cells A549 did not show any cytotoxicity effects. Compounds obtained from M. chamomilla L. are potential composite to the development of a new anti-platelet agent, which could be an alternative to the currently used anti-platelet drugs.

