Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious,
depressed humans: an exploratory study.
Author(s): Amsterdam JD, Shults J, Soeller I, Mao JJ, Rockwell K, Newberg AB.
Affiliation(s): University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Publication date & source: 2012, Altern Ther Health Med. , 18(5):44-9
CONTEXT: Anxiety and depression are the most commonly reported psychiatric
conditions and frequently occur as comorbid disorders. While the advent of
conventional drug therapies has simplified treatment, a large segment of the
population goes untreated or declines conventional therapy for financial,
cultural, or personal reasons. Therefore, the identification of inexpensive and
effective alternative therapies for anxiety and depression is of relevance to
public health.
OBJECTIVE: The current study explores data from a 2009 clinical chamomile trial
in humans to determine if chamomile provides clinically meaningful antidepressant
activity versus a placebo.
DESIGN: In the 2009 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the
research team examined the antianxiety and antidepressant action of oral
chamomile (Matricaria recutita) extract in participants with symptoms of comorbid
anxiety and depression.
SETTING: In the 2009 study, all of participants' evaluations took place at the
Depression Research Unit at the University of Pennsylvania. The study drew
participants from patients at the Department of Family Medicine and Community
Health's primary care clinic at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
PARTICIPANTS: Of the 57 participants in the 2009 trial, 19 had anxiety with
comorbid depression; 16 had anxiety with a past history of depression; and 22 had
anxiety with no current or past depression.
INTERVENTION: The intervention and placebo groups in the 2009 trial received
identically appearing 220-mg capsules containing either pharmaceutical-grade
chamomile extract standardized to a content of 1.2% apigenin or a placebo (ie,
lactose monohydrate NF), respectively.
OUTCOME MEASURES: In the current study, the research team used generalized
estimating equations analysis to identify clinically meaningful changes over time
in scores from the Hamilton Depression Rating (HAM-D) questionnaire among
treatment groups.
RESULTS: In the current study, the research team observed a significantly greater
reduction over time in total HAM-D scores for chamomile vs placebo in all
participants (P < .05). The team also observed a clinically meaningful but
nonsignificant trend for a greater reduction in total HAM-D scores for chamomile
vs placebo in participants with current comorbid depression (P = .062). When the
team examined the HAM-D core mood item scores, it observed a significantly
greater reduction over time for chamomile vs placebo in all participants (P <
.05) and a clinically meaningful but nonsignificant trend for a greater reduction
over time for chamomile vs placebo in participants without current or past
depression (P = .06).
CONCLUSION: Chamomile may provide clinically meaningful antidepressant activity
that occurs in addition to its previously observed anxiolytic activity.
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