Study of Anti-microbial Activities and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) Extracts in HaCaT cells

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), a member of the Asteraceae family, is a well-known for medicinal plant and can be found in India and Europe. Chamomile is an effective sedative and various medical effects. But, the effects of acne treatment by chamomile were not investigated. Therefore, we assessed the anti-oxidant effects, anti-microbial activity and anti-inflammatory effects by chamomile extracts in HaCaT keratinocyte cells. Anti-oxidant effects of chamomile extracts were investigated by DPPH assay. Also, results of MTT assay was demonstrated that chamomile extracts did not have a cytotoxic effect in HaCaT cells. To assess the antimicrobial activity, we determined formation of inhibition zone of Propionibacterium acnes by extracts from chamomile. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induces production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and IL-8 and expression of COX-2. Chamomile extracts could inhibit TNF-α-induced mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and COX-2 gene. These results demonstrated the possibility of chamomile for prevention and treatment of skin inflammatory diseases such as acne.