Posted by nolvas on July 21, 2006, at 18:36:06
In reply to is it true that Chamomile contains tryptophan?, posted by Franz on July 20, 2006, at 7:52:16
I'm not sure if it does or not. The sources I have don't list Tryptophan as a component of Chamomile. As for Tryptophan being responsible for the calming effects of Chamomile I also think this is false. There are studies saying agipenin is the component responsible for sedating the central nervous system. I think the Tryptophan element to Chamomile is as false as Tryptophan in turkey or milk having a relaxing effect.
Viola, H., et al. Apigenin, a component of Matricaria recutita flowers, is a central benzodiazepine receptors-ligand with anxiolytic effects. Planta Medica. 61(3):213-216, 1995.
The dried flower heads of Matricaria recutita L. (Asteraceae) are used in folk medicine to prepare a spasmolytic and sedative tea. Fractionation of the aqueous extract of this plant led to the detection of several fractions with significant affinity for the central benzodiazepine receptor and to the isolation and identification of 5,7,4'-
trihydroxyflavone (apigenin) in one of them. Apigenin competitively inhibited the binding of flunitrazepam with a Ki of 4 microM and had no effect on muscarinic receptors, alpha 1-adrenoceptors, and on the binding of muscimol to GABAA receptors. Apigenin had a clear anxiolytic activity in mice in the elevated plusmaze without evidencing sedation or muscle relaxant effects at doses similar to those used for classical benzodiazepines and no anticonvulsant action was detected. However, a 10-fold increase in dosage produced a mild sedative effect since a 26% reduction in ambulatory locomotor activity and a 35% decrement in hole-board parameters were evident. The results demonstrate that apigenin is a ligand for the central benzodiazepine receptors exerting anxiolytic and slight sedative effects but not being anticonvulsant or myorelaxant.Yamada, K., et al. Effect of inhalation of chamomile oil vapour on plasma ACTH level in ovariectomized-rat under restriction stress. Biol Pharm Bull. 19(9):1244-1246, 1996.
Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan.
The authors found that inhaling chamomile oil vapour decreased restriction stress-induced increases of plasma ACTH level in ovariectomized rat. The plasma ACTH level decreased further when diazepam was administered along with inhaling chamomile oil vapour. Flumazenile blocked the decrease in plasma ACTH level induced by inhaled chamomile oil vapour.
poster:nolvas
thread:668538
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