Quiz for the reader: What links the poem in the image to the Leaf title?

Chrysanthemum (Asteraceae, the daisy family) is considered the November flower. Native to East Asia and Europe, it flowers in autumn, long after other summer blooms. As I wrote previously, flowering happens only when the plants get long, uninterrupted, nights of darkness (Leaf38, “Let Chrysanthemums Sleep, https://lnkd.in/e3KB9dPR).

In this Leaf, I look more at Chrysanthemum's phytochemicals, many of which are easily extracted in chrysanthemum teas that are rich in flavanols, phenolic acids and sometimes anthocyanins, all excellentantioxidants. Phytochemicals worth mentioning here are the glycosylated flavone Linarin, the yellow flavone Luteolin (glycosylated and non-glycosylated), and phenolicacids Gallic Acid and Chlorogenic Acid.

Chrysanthemum teas are reputed to be good for treating many bodily systems, but it is not always clear which of the many phytochemicals have what bioactivities. Wu et al (2013) extracted Chrysanthemum with “supercritical CO₂” and studied its contents and bioactivities. Their extract blocked the enzyme that produces Nitrous Oxide, important in controlling blood flow. Also, like NSAID medicines, it blocked COX-2, an enzyme that makes prostaglandin. These are just two of the Chrysanthemum extract’s anti-inflammatory activities, and the researchers attributed them to Linarin and Luteolin. Chlorogenic acid in their extract is also known to have anti-inflammatory activities.

Other bioactivities attributed to Chrysanthemum and its phytochemicals include anti-microbial, anti-oxidative, anticancer, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective and nephroprotective. It is also suggested to restore skin barrier function.

All the above seem to make Chrysanthemum something of a wonder medication. However, it is worth mentioning that none of the phytochemicals mentioned above are unique to Chrysanthemum, nor even other members of the daisy family. While chrysanthemum tea is good source of linarin and luteolin, coffee is a better source of chlorogenic acid. Nevertheless, chrysanthemum beats coffee as a floral decoration.

Sources

菊 Han AR et al (2019). Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activities of Two Different Color Chrysanthemum Flower Teas. Molecules24(2), 329. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24020329

菊 Dhumal NN et al (2023). Phytochemicals, the rapeutic benefits and applications of chrysanthemum flower: A review, Heliyon 9(10), e20232.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20232

菊 Wu XL et al (2013). Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Supercritical-Carbon Dioxide Fluid Extract from Flowers and Buds of Chrysanthemum indicum Linnén. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.: eCAM, 2013,413237. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/413237

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