title: Potential effect and mechanism of action of topical chamomile (Matricaria chammomila L.) oil on migraine headache: A medical hypothesis.
abstract: Migraine is a chronic recurring headache for which no complete treatment has been found yet. Therefore, finding new treatment approaches and medicines is important. In this review, we consider the probable mechanism of action of a traditional and ethnic formulary of chamomile extract in sesame oil as a new topical medication for migraine pain relief. Chamomile oil is prepared in Traditional Persian Medicine by boiling aqueous extract of chamomile in sesame oil. To optimize the procedure, we can use a Clevenger-type apparatus to extract the essential oil and add it to the end product. The preparation includes both essential oils (chamazulene and bisabolol oxide) and polyphenols (a flavonoid such as apigenin and its derivatives). It probably possesses pain relief effects for migraines because of the following properties: (1) chamazulene and apigenin, which inhibit iNOS expression in activated macrophages and can lead to the prohibition of NO release and synthesis; (2) chamomile flavonoids, which have a strong inhibitory effect on endogenous prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in RAW 264.7 macrophages and can play the role of selective COX-2 inhibitor; (3) chamomile polyphenols, which possess anti-inflammatory effects due to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in THP1 macrophages and which can reduce inflammation in neurovascular units (NVU) at the site of migraine pain; (4) chamomile, which has neuroprotective effects because of reduced NO levels; (5) sesamine in sesame oil, which possesses an anti-inflammatory effect. These effects are supported by main pathophysiological theories of migraine such as neural and sensitization theories. Chamomile oil is a traditional formulation still used in Iran as an ethno-medicine. Because of the mentioned mechanisms of action, it can be hypothesized that chamomile oil is a novel medicine for the relief of migraine pain.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center and Department of Phytopharmaceuticals (Traditional Pharmacy), School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Research Office for the History of Persian Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Arman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zargaran
authors.affiliation: Vascular and Degenerative Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Neurology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: borhanihaghighi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borhani-Haghighi
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center and Department of Phytopharmaceuticals (Traditional Pharmacy), School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Pouya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faridi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daneshamouz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kordafshari
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center and Department of Phytopharmaceuticals (Traditional Pharmacy), School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohagheghzadeh
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D047310:Apigenin / Q000737:chemistry; D052176:Azulenes / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D020843:Chamomile / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059408:Pain Management; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D012715:Sesame Oil / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D052176:Azulenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D047310:Apigenin; D012715:Sesame Oil; C013872:chamazulene