Essential Oil Variation in Matricaria chamomilla L.: The Impact of Harvest Timing and Flower Development

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of flower harvesting times on the essential oil (EO) yield and composition of Matricaria chamomilla L. Flowers were collected at various developmental stages, including early flower opening, full flowering (at 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 6:00 PM), the end of flowering, and fruit set. EO extraction was performed via hydro-distillation, and volatile components were analyzed using GC and GC/MS. The highest EO yield (0.28% w/w) was obtained at full flowering at 12:00 PM. This peak may be attributed to increased enzymatic activity, light intensity, and diurnal accumulation of volatile compounds. A total of 22 compounds were identified, making up as much as 96.4% of the EO profile. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes, particularly α-Bisabolol oxide A (up to 66.7%), α-Bisabolone oxide A (10.5%), and α-Bisabolol oxide B (6.8%), were predominant at noon and late afternoon. In contrast, trans-β-Farnesene peaked in early morning samples, and chamazulene showed no significant variation across times. Comparison with ISO 19332:2020 standards revealed that α-Bisabolol oxide A and α-Bisabolone oxide A exceeded reference values, while chamazulene and trans-β-Farnesene remained below typical ranges. The highest proportion of oxygenated sesquiterpenes was observed at 12:00 PM (80.2%), suggesting strong pharmacological potential at this time. Minor compounds such as cis-Spiroether and linalool varied slightly by harvest stage. These results demonstrate that both harvest timing and flower developmental stage are critical for optimizing EO yield and therapeutic quality in M. chamomilla.

Graphical Abstract

Essential Oil Variation in Matricaria chamomilla L.: The Impact of Harvest Timing and Flower Development

Highlights

  • Harvest time impacts essential oil yield and composition in chamomilla L.
  • Maximum oil yield (0.28% w/w) occurs at full flowering stage at 12:00 PM.
  • Morning harvests maximize β-Farnesene, while afternoons enhance α-Bisabolol oxides.
  • Chamazulene levels remain unchanged across all harvesting times.
  • α-Bisabolol oxide A levels exceeded ISO 19332:2020, while β-Farnesene was lower.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Agrotechniques in Industrial Crops
Volume 6, Issue 2
Agrotechniques in Industrial Crops (Agrotech Ind Crops) (Online ISSN: 2783-2945)
July 2026
Pages 219-230

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