Achillea millefolium L. s.l. – phenolic compounds as pharmacologically active principles and their evaluation in commercial drug samples

The aerial parts of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L. s.l.) are used in traditional European medicine for the treatment of gastro-intestinal and hepato-biliary disorders [1]. The European Pharmacopoeia requires a minimum content of 0.2% essential oil and 0.02% proazulenes, the latter causing the antiphlogistic effects of the drug [2]. Moreover, phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and phenolcarbonic acids are present in the plant and, as previously demonstrated by our group, also contribute to the pharmacological activity of yarrow: A fraction enriched in flavonoids exhibited spasmolytic effects on isolated guine…