Medicinal plants, including chamomile, have been largely used by the general population as important food and therapeutic alternatives. Considering that the sanitary control of such products is precarious, this situation becomes worrisome since a product presenting unsuitable conditions for consumption can lead to several risks to the consumer. Thus, the present study aimed to perform a pharmacognostic and microbiological evaluation of fifteen samples of chamomile tea commercialized in Cascavel Municipality, Paraná State, Brazil. The adopted methodology for the tests was that recommended by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (1988, 1996, 1998). The authenticity study indicated that all samples were constituted of Chamomilla recutita L.; however, most samples had excessively destroyed flower capitula. Six samples had levels of strange materials above 5%. As regards essential oil evaluation, all samples were unsatisfactory, since they only had essential oil traces, i.e. values under 0.4%, which is the lowest value accepted by the Pharmacopoeia. As regards mold and yeast analyses, four samples had values above the limit of 10(4) UFC mL-1, according to that recommended by the World Health Organization. The obtained data suggest that the chamomile commercialized in Cascavel Municipality has problems regarding quality; thus, establishing suitable procedures for sanitary hygienic control in its production chain is needed to assure the quality and the safety of such products.
chamomile; quality; food safety
