Kivonat:
The effect of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert is made up by several
groups of active substances, among which terpenoids in the
inflorescences are of greatest importance. Among cultivated species,
the Hungarian BK-2 contains more chamazulene in its essential oil than
the German Degumil type, which is mainly cultivated for its
(-)-alpha-bisabolol. Both components have important antiinflammatory
activities. Among wild chamomile populations in Hungary, a population
was found in the area of Szabadkigyos containing significant amounts-on
average 48%-of (-)-alpha-bisabolol in its inflorescence oil. In vitro
cultures were made from this population to obtain propagation material
containing a high number of active substances. The intact roots
contained no (-)-alpha-bisabolol but the sesquiterpene alcohol
beta-eudesmol as new compound was identified by our group. Sterile
plantlets, cultured in vitro, were multiplied for phytochernical
investigations. Pharmacologically important compounds of the essential
oils were followed in great detail. The amount of in vitro cultured
terpenoids and polyin compounds was compared with that of in vivo
plants. These volatile compounds were identified by comparing their
retention times with those of authentic standards, essential oils of
known composition and peak enrichment. The confirmation of identity was
done by comparison of their mass spectra with those reported in the
literature and reference compounds. The percentage evaluation of each
component was made by area normalisation. Gas chromatography (GC) and
mass spectrometry (MS) showed that sterile chamomile cultures generated
the most important terpenoid and polyin compounds characteristic of the
parent plant. We identified germacrene-D, berkheyaradulene, 4-(2', 4,
4'-trimethyl-bicyclo[4.1.0]hept-2'-en-3'-yl)-3-buten-2-one,
geranyl-isovalerate and cedrol as new components in these sterile
cultures. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.