PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION, ACUTE TOXICITY, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTS FROM AERIAL PARTS OF FOUR WILD GROWING ACHILLEA SPECIES

Plants from the genus Achillea are rich in biologically active ingredients and are traditionally known for their healing potential. In this research, the phytochemical profile was investigated, the content of total phenolics and flavonoids was determined and examined the acute toxicity, antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of ethanolic, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of Achillea abrotanoides (Vis.) Vis., Achillea chrysocoma Friv., Achillea grandifolia Friv. and Achillea millefolium L. Tested extracts showed the presence of different groups of phytochemicals, while the high content of total phenolics and flavonoids was quantified, especially in the ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts. The acute toxicity was examined in the Artemia salina model, where the extracts did not show significant toxicity after an incubation period of 24 hours, while after 48 hours, strong acute toxicity was recorded in chloroform extracts of A. millefolium and A. chrysocoma. Extracts were tested for antioxidant activity using the DPPH test, as well as antidiabetic activity based on their ability to inhibit the & alpha;-amylase. Ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of A. abrotanoides and A. millefolium showed a great ability to reduce DPPH radicals, while the same extracts accomplished a significant inhibitory potential on & alpha;-amylase. Also, a correlation was established between the content of total phenolics and flavonoids with the antioxidant activity of the extracts.