Chamazulene

• 7-ethyl -1 ,4- dimethylazulen
• Dimethulen

Blue liquid

Liquid

0.9883 g · cm -3 ( 20 ° C)

161 ° C ( 16 mbar )

Good in methanol, ethanol and n-hexane

• 3000 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, mouse, i.m. )
• 600 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, Rabbit, i.v.)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Chamazulene is a blue-violet essential oil with anti-inflammatory action, which belongs to the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs) and the terpene derivatives. The IUPAC name is 7-ethyl -1 ,4- dimethylazulen. The trivial name chamazulene is a compound word made up Chamomilla, the Latin name of the Real chamomile, the French word for sky azure blue, and the notes len ( of alkene ).

History

In 1863 the French chemist Piesse coined in a short note the name of azulene for the blue substance from the chamomile oil. The structure of chamazulene but was only in 1953 as a 7- ethyl-1 ,4- dimethylazulen secured.

Relatively early was it concluded that the blue color is produced only during the extraction and distillation, and thus the azulene is not genuinely present in chamomile.

Production and representation

The precursor of the chamazulene is included as matricin among others in the chamomile flowers and yarrow. From this, the actual product is obtained in the distillation:

Properties

Chamazulene is a blue-violet oil which decomposes quickly in air, light and heat is applied. It has anti-inflammatory ( anti-inflammatory ) effect, making it next to bisabolol and matricin one of the main active ingredients in chamomile flower oil.

Use and safety

Chamomile flower oil is probably one of the natural remedies most commonly used and oldest. The effect is based on a mixture of different substances (mostly flavonoids and terpenes or terpene derivatives ); the anti-inflammatory action is due above all to the materials contained therein bisabolol, matricin and chamazulene. Here, bisabolol and matricin have the highest activity; Chamazulene, in comparison with only 50 % matricin its anti-inflammatory effect. In animal experiments produced chamazulene in high doses respiratory disorders in rabbits and mice.