Trends in Phenolic Profiles of Achillea millefolium from Different Geographical Gradients

Abstract

The traditional widely used raw material of Achillea millefolium is currently mainly derived from wild populations, leading to diversification and uncertainty in its quality. The aim of the study was to determine the accumulation differences of phenolic compounds between geographically distant populations of Achillea millefolium from northern and southern gradients. Plant material was collected from Gaziantep and Nevşehir provinces in Turkey and from wild populations in Lithuania. A complex of nine hydroxycinnamic acids and eleven flavonoids was identified and quantified in the methanolic extracts of inflorescences, leaves, and stems using the HPLC-PDA method. Caffeoylquinic acids predominated in leaves, while inflorescences tended to prevail in flavonoids. The PCA score plot model represented the quantitative distribution pattern of phenolic compounds along a geographical gradient of populations. The content of phenolic compounds in plant materials from northern latitudes was more than twice that of plants from southern latitudes. A significant correlation of individual phenolic compounds with latitude/longitude corresponded to their differences between two countries. Differences in accumulation of caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids revealed several intraspecific groups within A. millefolium. Our findings suggest that spatial geographical data on the distribution of phenolic compounds in A. millefolium populations could be used as a tool to find potential collection sites for high-quality raw materials.

Comparative Phytoprofiling of Achillea millefolium Morphotypes: Assessing Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic and Triterpenic Compounds Variation across Different Plant Parts

“…Achillea spp. inflorescences were characterised by flavones as organ-specific compounds, while leaves were characterised by flavonols, especially rutin, which is in agreement with our previous studies [23,36]. Achillea spp.…”

“…Previous studies have mainly focused on the characterisation of essential oils and flavonoid components of the typical white morphotype of A. millefolium in relation to external and internal cues [13,[23][24][25][26]. However, to date, no study has reported a detailed investigation of the triterpenoid profile in A. millefolium parts of the plant.…”

Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Tanacetum vulgare L. Wild-Growing in Latvia

“…However, the concentration of phenolic compounds in T. vulgare depends on the type of habitat. The distribution of phenolic compounds in plants is difficult to explain by geographical differences in locations [ 46 ].…”

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

“…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]. These activities mostly arise as a result of the synergistic effect of phenolics and flavonoids, as well as other groups of secondary metabolites that are present in plants of this genus.…”