title: Production of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) in Norway: essential oil content and quality.
abstract: In 1996, the production of Achillea millefolium L. at different locations in Norway was investigated with regard to the developmental stage. The oil content differed greatly between the vegetative stage (0.13%) and the stage of full bloom (0.34%). Changes in the composition of yarrow essential oil were found to be related to maturation of the plant, with increasing amounts of monoterpenes in relation to the sesquiterpene. However, a clear trend could be detected only for the monoterpenic compounds with increasing levels of alpha- and beta-pinene and alpha-thujone and decreasing levels of sabinene, borneol, and bornyl acetate. Previously reported as major compounds, chamazulene and germacrene D could be found only in insignificant amounts. A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) procedure was applied for screening of the terpenic composition. Sesquiterpenic compounds such as beta-bisabolene, alpha-bisabolol, and delta-cadinene were detected in substantial amounts by SPME in contrast to the steam-distilled samples.
authors: The Plant Biocentre, Department of Botany, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Rohloff
authors: E B
authors: EB
authors: Skagen
authors: A H
authors: AH
authors: Steen
authors: T H
authors: TH
authors: Iversen
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D009664:Norway; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D013729:Terpenes