Cultivo in vitro de la Matricaria chamomilla (Manzanilla) para incrementar la producción de aceites esenciales y la actividad antioxidante.

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the antioxidant activity of Matricaria chamomilla L. seedlings grown in vitro. The primary objective was to evaluate how different zinc oxide nanoparticle treatments (TO, T1, T2, and T3) impact antioxidant capacity, as measured by absorbance and the percentage of inhibition of DPPH free radicals. In vitro experiments were conducted with four different treatments, varying in volumes and dilutions, and two replicates were performed for each treatment to ensure the validity of the results. The results showed significant differences in antioxidant activity among treatments, with treatment T3 being the most effective with the lowest IC50 in reducing DPPH. Other treatments also showed promising results, suggesting that multiple approaches may be effective in increasing the production of bioactive compounds. Although chamomile plants are known for their secondary metabolites such as bisabolol and essential oils, their presence could not be determined due to the juvenile stage of the plants in this study. In vitro culture has proven to be an effective technique for controlled seedling growth, but further development is required to fully evaluate its biochemical and pharmacological potential.