QR Code https://tubittumjournal.com/article/1091
Research Article

Pharmacological and Therapeutic Potential of Chamomile in Lowering Blood Triglyceride Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors

  • Najmeh Sadat Taghavi
  • Abolfazl Moradi
Najmeh Sadat Taghavi
Abolfazl Moradi

Abstract

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile), a widely used medicinal herb, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-modulating properties. Its specific effects on serum triglyceride levels, however, remain to be systematically evaluated.

Objective: This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Matricaria chamomilla on serum triglyceride levels across human, animal, and in vitro studies.

Methods: A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to 2025. Studies evaluating Chamomile’s impact on triglyceride levels were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently performed by two reviewers using Cochrane Risk of Bias and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale tools. Findings were synthesized qualitatively, and meta-analysis was performed where appropriate.

Results: Ten studies met inclusion criteria, including 4 human clinical trials, 4 animal studies, and 2 in vitro investigations. Chamomile consistently reduced serum triglyceride levels in animal models and showed moderate lipid-lowering effects in humans. Mechanistic evidence indicates its effects are mediated through antioxidant activity, modulation of lipid-metabolizing enzymes, and anti-inflammatory pathways. Reported adverse effects were minimal and mild.

Conclusion: Current evidence supports Matricaria chamomilla as a potential adjunct therapy for hypertriglyceridemia. High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to establish optimal dosing, treatment duration, and long-term safety.

Files :

Copyright © 2022 Tubittum Journal. All rights reserved.

Authors retain copyright of their article if they are accepted for publication.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons License

Sadat Taghavi N, Moradi A. Pharmacological and Therapeutic Potential of Chamomile in Lowering Blood Triglyceride Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2025;4(3):112-124. DOI:10.64209/tubittum.v4i3.1091

  1. Rafraf M, Zemestani M, Asghari-Jafarabadi M. Effectiveness of chamomile tea on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Endocrinol Invest. 2015;38(2):163–70. doi:10.1007/s40618-014-0170-x.
  2. Jalali MT, Mosallanezhad Z. The effect of chamomile intake on lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Diabetol. 2021;10(2):53–60. doi:10.5603/DK.a2021.0034.
  3. Sharifi-Rad J, et al. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.): A review of ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology. Front Pharmacol. 2020;11:580289. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.580289.
  4. Hajhashemi V, Ghannadi A, Sharif B. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the essential oil of Matricaria chamomilla L. Phytother Res. 2001;15(3):240–4. doi:10.1002/ptr.673.
  5. Shafei MN, et al. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of chamomile extract in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017;206:63–70. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.05.004.
  6. Coelho JG, et al. Chamomile extracts reduce lipid accumulation and inflammation in adipocytes and hepatocytes: Mechanistic insights. Nutr Metab. 2020;17:85. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00463-2.
  7. Zemestani M, Rafraf M, Asghari-Jafarabadi M. Chamomile tea improves glycemic indices and antioxidants status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nutrition. 2016;32(1):66–72. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2015.07.011.
  8. Hajian S, et al. Effects of chamomile extract on lipid profile and oxidative stress in hyperlipidemic patients: A pilot study. J Herb Med. 2021;28:100440. doi:10.1016/j.hermed.2021.100440.
  9. Li X, et al. Anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Matricaria chamomilla in high-fat diet-induced mice: Biochemical and molecular mechanisms. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022;150:113014. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113014.
  10. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009;6(7):e1000097. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097.
  11. Makhdoomi K, et al. The effect of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) infusion on blood glucose and lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients. Progress in Nutrition. 2018;20(3):345–51. doi:10.23751/pn.v20i3.5884.
  12. Alasvand Zarasvand S, et al. Effects of herbal tea (non-Camellia sinensis) on glucose homeostasis and serum lipids in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev. 2025;83(3):e1128–e1145. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuae068.
  13. Klein GA, et al. Mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis) improves glycemic and lipid profiles of type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes individuals: A pilot study. J Am Coll Nutr. 2011;30(5):320–32. doi:10.1080/07315724.2011.10719975.
  14. Yu Z, et al. Effects of high-protein diet on glycemic control, insulin resistance and blood pressure in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr. 2020;39(6):1724–34. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2019.08.008.
  15. McKay DL, Blumberg JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.). Phytother Res. 2006;20(7):519–30. doi:10.1002/ptr.1900.
  16. Zhao Y, et al. Chemical characterization, antioxidant, anticancer and hypolipidemic activities of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.). J Food Sci Technol. 2020;57(3):1066–75. doi:10.1007/s11483-019-01524-4.
  17. Hosseini M, et al. The effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. hydroalcoholic extract on atherosclerotic plaques, antioxidant activity, lipid profile and inflammatory indicators in rats. BMRAT. 2019;6(1):490–6. doi:10.32508/bmrat.v6i1.490.
  18. Sharifi-Rad J, et al. Plants of the genus Matricaria: Chemical and pharmacological perspectives. Phytochem Rev. 2018;17:449–77. doi:10.1007/s11101-018-9572-7.
  19. Coelho JG, et al. Chamomile extracts reduce lipid accumulation and inflammation in adipocytes and hepatocytes: Mechanistic insights. Nutr Metab. 2020;17:85. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00463-2.
  20. Hosseini M, et al. The effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. hydroalcoholic extract on atherosclerotic plaques, antioxidant activity, lipid profile and inflammatory indicators in rats. BMRAT. 2019;6(1):490–6. doi:10.32508/bmrat.v6i1.490.
  21. Hosseini M, et al. The effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. hydroalcoholic extract on atherosclerotic plaques, antioxidant activity, lipid profile and inflammatory indicators in rats. BMRAT. 2019;6(1):490–6. doi:10.32508/bmrat.v6i1.490.

22  Mosallanezhad Z, Mahmoodi M, Hosseini R, Ranjbar S, Mirshekar MA, Clark CCT, Kiamarzi K, Barzegar F, Motamed Z, Jalali M. The effect of chamomile intake on lipid profile in patients with diabetes and related metabolic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Diabetol. 2021;10(4):375-81. doi:10.5603/DK.a2021.0034

23 Rafraf M, Zemestani M, Maleki V, Larijani B, Adili A, Roozbeh N. Effectiveness of chamomile tea on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Endocrinol Invest. 2015;38(3):231-8. doi:10.1007/s40618-014-0170-x

24 Heidary M, Yazdanpanahi Z, Dabbaghmanesh MH, Parsanezhad ME, Emamghoreishi M, Akbarzadeh M. Effect of chamomile capsule on lipid- and hormonal-related parameters among women of reproductive age with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Res Med Sci. 2018;23:33.

25 Kermanian S, et al. The Effect of Chamomile Tea versus Black Tea on Glycemic Control, Depression Status and Lipid Profiles in Type 2 Diabetes. [Publication year 2018] (CAB Digital Library). [26 Alam, W., Rocca, C., Khan, H., Hussain, Y., Aschner, M., De Bartolo, A., … & Cheang, W. S. (2021). Current status and future perspectives on therapeutic potential of apigenin: Focus on metabolic-syndrome-dependent organ dysfunction. Antioxidants, 10(10), 1643.

27 Salehi, B., Sharifi-Rad, J., Cappellini, F., Reiner, Ž., Zorzan, D., Imran, M., … & Maroyi, A. (2020). The therapeutic potential of anthocyanins: current approaches based on their molecular mechanism of action. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 1300.

28 Ashkar, F., Rezaei, S., Salahshoornezhad, S., Vahid, F., Gholamalizadeh, M., Dahka, S. M., & Doaei, S. (2020). The Role of medicinal herbs in treatment of insulin resistance in patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A literature review. Biomolecular concepts, 11(1), 57-75.

29 Edo, G. I., Igbuku, U. A., Makia, R. S., Isoje, E. F., Gaaz, T. S., Yousif, E., … & Umar, H. (2025). Phytochemical profile, therapeutic potentials, nutritional composition, and food applications of ginger: a comprehensive review. Discover Food, 5(1), 1-32.

Articles Search

Search with Article name or description

Search with Author's name