COMPARATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION IN SEVERAL ACHILLEA SPECIES FROM ROMANIA

The aim of our study was to perform a comparative phytochemical evaluation in four Achillea species, including two subspecies, from the Romanian spontaneous flora. Essential oils, flavonoids and polyphenolcarboxilic acids were determined by chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods. Essential oil content varied between 0.24 - 0.40%, but only Achillea millefolium oil complied with the pharmacopoeial requirements regarding the chamazulene content. Amongst the other taxa, only Achillea stricta exhibited low amounts of chamazulene (2.41%). Overall, average content of flavonoids and phenolcarboxilic acids were registered in our taxa, with apigenin and luteolin as main flavonoids. All the investigated taxa contained clorogenic acid as well as caffeic acid but only in its esterified form. Based on essential oil composition, two infraspecific chemical taxa, Achillea distans subspecies distans and alpina, were first described. This is also the first record of the chemical composition of the essential oil in Achillea nobilis ssp. neilreichii.