Rapid determination of phenolic composition in chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids are the main responsible of the antioxidant activity of chamomile ( Matricaria recutita L. ). Traditional methods for the analysis of the phenolic content in vegetables often suffer from limitations such as being expensive, time-consuming, and complex. In this study, we propose, for the first time, the use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for the rapid determination of the main components of the polyphenolic fraction in chamomile. Results demonstrate that SERS can serve as an alternative or complementary technique to main analytical strategies for qualitative and quantitative determination of polyphenol compounds in plant extracts. The method can be proposed for quasi real-time analysis of herbal teas and infusions, facilitating rapid screening of their main antioxidant components. • Flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids are the main antioxidants in chamomile. • SERS as fast, informative, sensitive and low-cost technique for tea analysis. • SERS-based least-squares model can predict the composition of chamomile tea.