Variability of total flavonoid and mucilage content of wild growing chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) populations

During our investigation 50 wild growing chamomile populations' active substance content, among them total flavonoid content and swelling index referring to mucilage content were examined in 2009 in the main chamomile collection areas of Hungary. Swelling index was determined according to the general and specified descriptions of Althaeae folium monograph of European Pharmacopoeia, while total flavonoid content was measured by the method described in the monograph of Crataegi folium cum flore. The 50 Hungarian wild growing chamomile populations proved to be very heterogeneous in terms of the examined features. The swelling index of their flower drug samples changed between 15.8 and 80.8 and their total flavonoid content varied from 0.94 to 2.28 %. Significant correlation was also found between meteorological conditions and evaluated characteristics: there was medium strong positive correlation between spring total heat unit (sum of daily 10 degrees C higher average temperatures of the period lasted from 1st of March, 2009 until the day before flower collection) as well as total heat unit of 10 days before harvest and swelling index (r = 0.50-0.56), furthermore medium strong negative connection could be seen between total heat units and total flavonoid content (r = -0.60-0.65). Based on these findings it can be ascertained that raising temperature affects the mucilage accumulation positively, however, it has a negative effect on the amount of flavonoids.