Achillea eriophora DC.: An ethnobotanical, pharmacological and phytochemical review

Abstract

Background: Achillea eriophora DC. (Asteraceae) is a less-known medicinal plant endemic to South and East Iran. It is traditionally used for treating a variety of health problems by local people. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on A. eriophora, including its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties, in exploring future therapeutic and scientific potentials.Methods: The information on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects of A. eriophora was collected from the scientific literature databases, Iranian Pharmacopoeia, published books, Ph.D. and MS dissertations.Results: Achillea eriophora is traditionally considered to have antipyretic, diuretic, and carminative effects. It is also used to treat digestive problems, diarrhea, fever, diabetes, bone pain, wounds, and insect bite. It has considerable pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, hypotensive, wound healing, and antioxidant. A total of 128 compounds such as terpenes, sesquiterpenes, alcohols, esters, and phenols have been isolated from this species. Its major chemical components are 1,8-cineole and camphor. Conclusions:The high number of isolated constituents signify considerable pharmacological properties of Achillea eriophora. The present pharmacological investigations of this plant are limited and often lack exact information on active compounds and their mechanisms of action. Most of the medicinal properties attributed to A. eriophora, such as healing digestive disorders, fever, and diabetes have not yet been investigated and proven under a scientific study. This highlights the importance of A. eriophora as a valuable candidate for future studies on medicinal plants. Due to its wide range of traditional uses, the whole plant parts of A. eriophora, including roots, are harvested by local communities. Therefore, a conservation planning for this threatened species is needed.

Potential impacts of climate change on the geographic distribution of Achillea eriophora DC., a medicinal species endemic to Iran in southwestern Asia

“…Other ecological factors also play important roles in shaping species' distributions, such as biotic interactions and anthropogenic disturbances (Escobar et al, 2015;Wisz et al, 2013). Particularly, the negative effects of anthropogenic activities, such as irregular harvesting, and development can fragment species' habitats and reduce the distribution of the species in the future (Mohammadi et al, 2021(Mohammadi et al, , 2023.…”

“…The species has been categorized as of Least Concern (LC) by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria (IUCN, 2011). However, it is illegally harvested in its habitats owing to its useful medicinal properties; environmental changes such as global climate change can be add future pressure on its conservation states (Behroozian, et al, 2020;Karami et al, 2022;Mohammadi et al, 2021Mohammadi et al, , 2023).…”

Ethnobotany of plants used by indigenous communities in Birjand, a dry region with rich local traditional knowledge in eastern Iran

“…4). Schlerorhachis leptoclada and Achillea eriophora, both endemic to Iran, were among the mostly used medicinal plants in the study area that were traditionally applied for treatment of a wide range health problems (Mohammadi et al 2020(Mohammadi et al , 2021.…”

Alkaline DMSO superoxide and radical scavenging, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and polyphenol contents of aqueous and methanol extract from Achilllea santolinoides L. aerial parts

“…The genus Achillea comprises many species known for their therapeutic benefits (Fahed et al, 2016;Sardrodi et al, 2017). Achillea species are currently known to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diaphoretic and diuretic (Mohammadi et al, 2021).…”