title: Choleretic effects of yarrow (Achillea millefolium s.l.) in the isolated perfused rat liver.
abstract: Different species from the Achillea millefolium aggregate are used against gastrointestinal and hepato-biliary disorders in traditional European medicine. In this work, a fraction enriched in dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCCAs) and luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide was investigated on its choleretic effect in the isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) compared to cynarin (1,3-DCCA), the main choleretic compound of Cynara scolymus L. A fraction containing 3,4-, 3,5- and 4,5-DCCA and luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide was prepared by solid phase extraction from a 20% methanolic extract of yarrow. A total amount of 48.8% DCCAs and 3.4% luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide was determined by HPLC analysis with cynarin as internal standard. IPRL experiments revealed a dose-dependant increase in bile flow (23-44-47%) by the Achillea fraction. Choleresis was two- to three-fold higher than that of cynarin. The combined effect of DCCAs and luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide stimulated bile flow more effectively than the single compound cynarin. Due to their polar structure, these compounds are quantitatively extracted into teas and tinctures; hence, they seem to be the choleretic active principles in the traditional application forms of yarrow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, PharmaCenter Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benedek
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Geisz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thalhammer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kopp
mesh_terms: D031162:Achillea / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D031943:Cynara scolymus / Q000737:chemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D047311:Luteolin / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011801:Quinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D002934:Cinnamates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C472707:caffeoylquinic acid; C456096:luteolin-7-O-glucuronide; D011801:Quinic Acid; C100257:cynarine; D047311:Luteolin