The flowery smell of health and wellbeing - Identification and quantification of odor-active compounds in chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

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Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is one of the most popular herbal remedies used in traditional medicine. Over the past years, different pharmacological and physiological effects have been elucidated, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory activity. Although being of such importance and being renowned for its characteristic smell, the odor-active substances of chamomile, as part of its volatile organic compounds, have not been comprehensively studied. As a consequence, it is likely that there are substances still awaiting their discovery. We have indeed indications that highly odor-potent contributors might be buried underneath a wealth of substances within the volatile fraction of chamomile, since there is an abundance of constituents, mainly sesquiterpenes and their derivatives. Some of these aroma-active compounds may be well below the limit of detection of common analytical tools. Accordingly, we aim to characterize the odor-active substances of chamomile in this project, including identification, quantification and recombination experiments. This will be achieved by applying comprehensive aroma research tools using human sensory evaluation in combination with odorant-analytical methods. In particular, extraction and isolation techniques like solvent-assisted flavor evaporation, chromatographic techniques like gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry/olfactometry (one- and two-dimensional), preparative enrichment of specific target substances, and adequate quantification procedures e.g. stable isotope dilution assays along with other analytical techniques will be used. Carrying out recombination experiments, the aroma substances contributing to the overall aroma of chamomile will be fully characterized. These results will support researchers dealing with future investigations on the pharmacological, physiological or other biological effects of chamomile constituents.