title: Antioxidant and cytoprotective properties of infusions from leaves and inflorescences of Achillea collina Becker ex Rchb.
abstract: Plants are the main source of molecules with antioxidant and radical scavenging properties that aid the natural defence systems of cells and may be involved in the preservation of human health, particularly preventing all the physiopathological conditions where oxidative damage is a hallmark. Achillea collina Becker ex Rchb. is a medicinal plant of the Achillea millefolium aggregate (yarrow) traditionally used, particularly in mountain areas, as an infusion or alcohol extract for its digestive, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and wound healing properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity and cytoprotective activity against oxidative stress of infusions obtained from the leaves and inflorescences of Achillea collina Becker ex Rchb., assessed by chemical (free radical scavenging activity by DPPH and Folin Ciocalteu assay) and biological assays (in vitro model of cytotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in PC12 cells line). Infusions of leaves had the highest antioxidant properties and cytoprotective activity. The antioxidant capacity was significantly correlated with the total phenolic content but not with the cytoprotective profile. Achillea collina Becker ex Rchb. has good antioxidant and cytoprotective properties, suggesting further investigations on its chemical composition and potential health value, particularly for traditionally prepared infusions of leaves.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Produzione Vegetale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy. anna.giorgi@unimi.it
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bombelli
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luini
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Speranza
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosentino
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecchini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cocucci
mesh_terms: D031162:Achillea / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts