Achillea millefolium L. s.l. revisited: recent findings confirm the traditional use.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L. s.l.) is traditionally used in the treatment of inflammatory and spasmodic gastro-intestinal disorders, hepato-biliary complaints and inflammation. Now we could show that the flavonoids mediated the antispasmodic properties of yarrow, whereas the dicaffeoylquinic acids caused the choleretic effects. Moreover, we observed an in vitro-inhibition of human neutrophil elastase, a protease involved in the inflammatory process, by extracts and fractions from yarrow, which suggests additional mechanisms of antiphlogistic action. The presented results confirm the traditional use of yarrow.
Benedek
Birgit
B
Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. brigitte.kopp@univie.ac.at
Kopp
Brigitte
B
D031162:Achillea / Q000737:chemistry; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000187:drug effects; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase
Planta Med. 2001 Oct;67(7):654-8
11582545
Phytomedicine. 2006 Nov;13(9-10):702-6
16303291
Arzneimittelforschung. 2006;56(8):582-8
17009839
Chem Biodivers. 2007 May;4(5):849-57
17511000