Exploring the Medicinal Potential of Achillea grandifolia in Greek Wild-Growing Populations: Characterization of Volatile Compounds, Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Leaves and Inflorescences

Abstract

Various species of the genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) are traditionally used worldwide for wound healing against diarrhea, flatulence, and abdominal pains, as diuretic and emmenagogue agents. In the present study, the essential oils (EOs) obtained separately from the leaves and inflorescences of wild-growing Achillea grandifolia Friv. from Mt. Menoikio and Mt. Pelion (Greece) were analyzed by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry. The major compounds found in EOs of A. grandifolia inflorescences from Mt. Menoikio were as follows: cis-thujone (36.9%), 1,8-cineole (11.9%), camphor (10.0%), ascaridole (7.3%), α-terpinene (6.4%), sabinene (4.1%), trans-thujone (3.6%), and cis-jasmone (3.4%). In leaves from Mt. Menoikio, they were as follows: cis-thujone (50.8%), 1,8-cineole (20.0%), trans-thujone (5.5%), camphor (5.5%), borneol (3.6%), and α-terpineol (3.1%). In inflorescences from Mt. Pelion, they were as follows: camphor (70.5%), camphene (5.9%), cis-jasmone (3.2%), bornyl acetate (3.2%). In leaves from Mt. Pelion, they were as follows: camphor (83.2%), camphene (3.9%), and borneol (3.7%). Subsequently, the samples were first time tested for their antioxidant activities with the interaction of EOs with DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and their inhibition of lipid peroxidation, as well as for their anti-inflammatory activity through the soybean LOX (lipoxygenase) inhibition. All of the examined samples were found effective. A. grandifolia leaves presented the highest antioxidant potential according to the DPPH method, and the highest percentage of LOX inhibition. The study herein investigated for the first time the leaves and the inflorescences of A. grandifolia separately, and the results generally align with similar studies from neighboring countries (Turkey and Serbia) in terms of the yields and categorization of main EO compounds (oxygenated monoterpenes). However, the findings were not in agreement with previously studied Greek material, as a higher amount of cis-thujone and lower antioxidant activity are reported herein. Both the EOs of inflorescences and the leaves of the wild-growing population collected from Mt. Menoikio were characterized by a high quantity of cis-thujone (36.9% and 50.8%, respectively).

Changes in Rumen Microbiology and Metabolism of Tibetan Sheep with Different Lys/Met Ratios in Low-Protein Diets

“…However, whether this is true remains to be investigated. Tsiftsoglou et al (2023) showed that cis-jasmone, present in essential oils of plants, possesses antioxidant properties [56]. The antioxidant capacities were significantly higher in the LP-L group than in the LP-H and LP-M groups, suggesting that as the Lys/Met ratio decreases, the metabolite cis-jasmone increases, improving the antioxidant capacity of the organism.…”

Isolation of Secondary Metabolites from Achillea grandifolia Friv. (Asteraceae) and Main Compounds’ Effects on a Glioblastoma Cellular Model

“…is an herbaceous perennial plant, which is subendemic to the Balkan Peninsula with populations in adjacent Anatolia in Turkey. Previous studies have examined infusions of A. grandifolia with a focus on the antioxidant activity, total phenol, and total flavonoid contents of the extracts, as well as on its essential oil composition [ 9 , 10 ]. The methanol extract from A. grandifolia collected from the Balkan Peninsula is reported to have antibacterial and antioxidant properties [ 11 ].…”

Phytochemical Investigation, Acute Toxicity, Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activity of Extracts From Aerial Parts of Four Wild Growing Achillea Species

“…The plants of this genus are widely used in both traditional and official medicinal practices, and they display considerable antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, sedative, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, cytotoxic, estrogenic and antispasmodic properties [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Certainly, one of the most famous plants from the genus Achillea is A. millefolium L., which is widely used in traditional medicine around the world and which undoubtedly has become a cosmopolitan species [12,13]. Phytochemical research has revealed that many compounds of this genus are very biologically active, and in particular, phenolics and flavonoids are the most important secondary metabolites, which have been proven to possess a wide range of pharmacological activities [14,15].…”