Comparative Phytoprofiling of Achillea millefolium Morphotypes: Assessing Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic and Triterpenic Compounds Variation across Different Plant Parts

Abstract

Achillea millefolium L., commonly known as yarrow, is a versatile and widely distributed plant species with a rich history of ethnopharmacological significance. This study aimed to evaluate the comparative differences of A. millefolium inflorescence morphotypes. The phytochemical profile of white and pink inflorescence morphotypes was characterised by a complex of thirty-four phenolic and triterpene compounds. The species has distinct morphotypes of white and pink inflorescence. Phenolic and triterpenic profiles were determined, and individual compounds were quantified in inflorescence, leaf, and stem samples of two morphotypes tested. The antioxidant activity of plant extracts was evaluated by free radical scavenging (ABTS) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Caffeoylquinic acids predominated in all parts of the plant tested. Chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were the principal compounds in the phenolic profile. Betulin, betulinic acid, and α-amyrin were the prevailing triterpenic components in the triterpenic profiles of Achillea millefolium morphotypes. The predominant flavonoids in inflorescences were flavones, while in leaves, flavonols were the organ-specific compounds. The quantitative differences were observed between plant parts of morphotypes. Leaves consistently displayed the highest amounts of identified compounds and have been testified as the main source of antioxidant activity. Overall, white inflorescences accumulated a higher total amount of compounds compared to pink ones. The observed differences between morphotypes derived from the same population reflect the differences in specialised metabolites and their chemotypes. This study addresses gaps in knowledge, particularly in phenolic and triterpenic profiling of coloured inflorescence morphotypes, enhancing our understanding of chemotypes and morphotypes within the species.

The essential oil characterization of Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis DC. from the Great Basin of North America

“…These investigators identified five chemotypes: 1,8cineole/(E)-nerolidol, high cubenol, high germacrene-D/isospathulenol, high camphor/cubenol, and high 1,8-cineole/ β-thujone/cubenol. Furthermore, Raudone and co-workers investigated different morphotypes of A. millefoium and found notable differences in triterpenoid and phenolic components [2]. The A. millefolium essential oils were analyzed by enantioselective GC-MS (Table 3).…”

“…Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) is a polymorphous species with a complex taxonomy [1,2]. World Flora Online currently lists 161 synonyms for the species [3].…”

Structural and Functional Characterization of Medicinal Plants as Selective Antibodies towards Therapy of COVID-19 Symptoms

“…Native American nations used the plant for healing cuts and abrasions, for relief of earaches and throat infections, and as an eyewash. Common yarrow was used by plains Indigenous peoples to reduce pain or fever and aid sleep ( Table 1 ) [ 20 , 21 ].…”