Achillea santolina

Last updated

Achillea santolina
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Achillea
Species:
A. santolina
Binomial name
Achillea santolina
L.

Achillea santolina, a perennial herb, is commonly found in arid environments of Iraq and Jordan, but may colonize colder and more humid climates of the northern hemisphere, such as Europe and Asia. [1] It is a traditional plant used as a herbal remedy in many parts of Iraq and Jordan and has been used as an insecticide and repellent.

Contents

Botany

Achillea santolina is a perennial herb, typically 15–30 cm tall with erect, ascending stems. [1] The plant is characterized with green leaves that exhibit segments branched into three flat and ovular, serrated lobules. [1] The heads of the plant are clusters of flowers with proportionally longer stalks, forming radiate and slightly convex heads. [1] The plants typically grow on the edge of cultivated lands during their flowering period of March to April. [1]

Chemical constituents

Achillea santolina mainly contains a high level of flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones. [2] The species also produces alkaloids, saponins, resins, tannins, sterols, carbohydrates and a volatile oil. [1] Specifically, the extract of Achillea santolina contains chemical constituents such as santoflavone, artemetin, a- santonin, b- sitosterol, lupeol, and leukodin. [2]

Essential oil

The essential oils of Achillea santolina are made up of various components and the chemical concentration of the essential oil of the dry Achilles santolina ranges from 0.11 to 0.20% between genotypes of the species. [2] Of the components, camphor and 1,8 cineole are the major compounds found in plant's essential oils. The main constituents of the essential oil are found to be 1,8 cineole (17.6%), camphor (17.5%), 4-terpineol (7.0%), P-cymene (3.5%), trans-sabinene hydrate (2.7%), and alpha-terpineol (2.5%) [2]. Other compounds present are alpha-pinene, camphene, linalool, chrysanthenone, borneol, chrusanthenylactate, thymol, eugenol, and beta-eudesmol. [2] Additionally, the hydrodistilled oil of Achillea santolina contains 54 volatile components; of the fifty-four, the major components are fragranol, fragranyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, and terpine-4-ol. [3]

Uses

Medicinal

Achillea santolina is under research for its health effects and has supposed uses in traditional medicine for minor ailments. In Iraq and Jordan, an infusion of the leaves of Achillea santolina is used for intestinal complications such as intestinal colics, dysentery, and often used as a flatulence reliever. [1] In Turkey, the plant is traditionally used to treat abdominal pain, stomach-aches, and for the treatment of superficial wounds. [1]

Pharmacological studies of Achillea santolina presented its antimicrobial, antioxidant, spasmolytic, antiulcer, antitumor, choleretic, antidiuretic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory capabilities. [4] Externally, the plant has been used to treat skin inflammation and skin irritation associated with various conditions in forms of a sitz bath and a compress. [4] Additionally, the dried aerial parts of the plant are traditionally used to treat symptoms of the common cold. [2]

Insect repellent

With current research. insecticidal and repellent activities of the aerial parts of Achillea santolina are attributed to the oil content of the plant. [5] Domestic flies and honeybees displayed a significant response to the plant's insecticidal and repellent activities. However, there has not been much study on its insecticidal and repellent effects on other organisms. [5] Additionally, there has not been further research on determining the active constituents responsible for the plant's insecticidal and repellent properties.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essential oil</span> Hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants

An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the oil of the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An essential oil is essential in the sense that it contains the essence of the plant's fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived. The term "essential" used here does not mean indispensable or usable by the human body, as with the terms essential amino acid or essential fatty acid, which are so called because they are nutritionally required by a living organism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tansy</span> Species of plant

Tansy is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant in the genus Tanacetum in the aster family, native to temperate Europe and Asia. It has been introduced to other parts of the world, including North America, and in some areas has become invasive. It is also known as common tansy, bitter buttons, cow bitter, or golden buttons. The Latin word vulgare means "common".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anethole</span> Chemical compound

Anethole is an organic compound that is widely used as a flavoring substance. It is a derivative of the aromatic compound allylbenzene and occurs widely in the essential oils of plants. It is in the class of phenylpropanoid organic compounds. It contributes a large component of the odor and flavor of anise and fennel, anise myrtle (Myrtaceae), liquorice (Fabaceae), magnolia blossoms, and star anise (Schisandraceae). Closely related to anethole is its isomer estragole, which is abundant in tarragon (Asteraceae) and basil (Lamiaceae), and has a flavor reminiscent of anise. It is a colorless, fragrant, mildly volatile liquid. Anethole is only slightly soluble in water but exhibits high solubility in ethanol. This trait causes certain anise-flavored liqueurs to become opaque when diluted with water; this is called the ouzo effect.

<i>Camphora officinarum</i> Species of tree

Camphora officinarum is a species of evergreen tree indigenous to warm temperate to subtropical regions of East Asia, including countries such as China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. It is known by various names, most notably the camphor tree, camphorwood or camphor laurel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinene</span> Oily organic chemical found in plants

Pinene is a collection of unsaturated bicyclic monoterpenes. Two geometric isomers of pinene are found in nature, α-pinene and β-pinene. Both are chiral. As the name suggests, pinenes are found in pines. Specifically, pinene is the major component of the liquid extracts of conifers. Pinenes are also found in many non-coniferous plants such as camphorweed (Heterotheca) and big sagebrush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boldo</span> Species of plant

Peumus boldus, commonly known as boldo, is a species of tree in the family Monimiaceae and the only species in the genus Peumus. It is endemic to the central region of Chile, between 33° and 40° southern latitude. Boldo has also been introduced to Europe and North Africa, though it is not often seen outside botanical gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulegone</span> Chemical compound

Pulegone is a naturally occurring organic compound obtained from the essential oils of a variety of plants such as Nepeta cataria (catnip), Mentha piperita, and pennyroyal. It is classified as a monoterpene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eucalyptol</span> Chemical compound

Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid colorless liquid, and a bicyclic ether. It has a fresh camphor-like odor and a spicy, cooling taste. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Eucalyptol makes up about 70–90% of eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptol forms crystalline adducts with hydrohalic acids, o-cresol, resorcinol, and phosphoric acid. Formation of these adducts is useful for purification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borneol</span> Chemical compound

Borneol is a bicyclic organic compound and a terpene derivative. The hydroxyl group in this compound is placed in an endo position. The exo diastereomer is called isoborneol. Being chiral, borneol exists as enantiomers, both of which are found in nature.

α-Pinene Chemical compound

α-Pinene is an organic compound of the terpene class. It is one of the two isomers of pinene, the other being β-pinene. An alkene, it contains a reactive four-membered ring. It is found in the oils of many species of many coniferous trees, notably the Pinus and Picea species. It is also found in the essential oil of rosemary and Satureja myrtifolia. Both enantiomers are known in nature; (1S,5S)- or (−)-α-pinene is more common in European pines, whereas the (1R,5R)- or (+)-α-isomer is more common in North America. The enantiomers' racemic mixture is present in some oils such as eucalyptus oil and orange peel oil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eucalyptus oil</span> Distilled oil from the leaf of Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus oil is the generic name for distilled oil from the leaf of Eucalyptus, a genus of the plant family Myrtaceae native to Australia and cultivated worldwide. Eucalyptus oil has a history of wide application, as a pharmaceutical, antiseptic, repellent, flavouring, fragrance and industrial uses. The leaves of selected Eucalyptus species are steam distilled to extract eucalyptus oil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis flower essential oil</span> Essential oil obtained from the hemp plant

Cannabis flower essential oil, also known as hemp essential oil, is an essential oil obtained by steam distillation from the flowers, panicles, stem, and upper leaves of the hemp plant. Hemp essential oil is distinct from hemp seed oil and hash oil: the former is a vegetable oil that is cold-pressed from the seeds of low-THC varieties of hemp, the latter is a THC-rich extract of dried female hemp flowers (marijuana) or resin (hashish).

<i>Kaempferia galanga</i> Species of flowering plant

Kaempferia galanga, commonly known as kencur, aromatic ginger, sand ginger, cutcherry, is a monocotyledonous plant in the ginger family, and one of four plants called galangal. It is found primarily in open areas in Indonesia, southern China, Taiwan, Cambodia, and India, but is also widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia.

<i>Artemisia afra</i> Species of flowering plant

Artemisia afra, the African wormwood,[4] is a common species of the genus Artemisia in Africa, with a wide distribution from South Africa, to areas reaching to the North and East, as far north as Ethiopia.

<i>Eriocephalus africanus</i> Species of flowering plant

Eriocephalus africanus is a bushy shrublet indigenous to South Africa. It has a wide distribution in the Western and Eastern Cape, and in Namaqualand. The plant has several common names in various languages. It is known as the Kapokbossie or Wild Rosemary referring to its fancied resemblance to rosemary. The superficial resemblance is in the foliage, which, though softer and not glossy, grows in a habit similar to that of the common Mediterranean rosemary, although the two species are not related.

<i>Curcuma caesia</i> Species of flowering plant

Curcuma caesia, black turmeric or black zedoary, is a perennial herb with bluish-black rhizomes that is native to northeast India.

<i>Aframomum corrorima</i> Species of plant in the family Zingiberaceae

Aframomum corrorima is a species of flowering plant in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It's a herbaceous perennial that produces leafy stems 1–2 meters tall from rhizomatous roots. The alternately-arranged leaves are dark green, 10–30 cm long and 2.5–6 cm across, elliptical to oblong in shape. Pink flowers are borne near the ground and give way to red, fleshy fruits containing shiny brown seeds, which are typically 3–5 mm in diameter.

<i>Artemisia herba-alba</i> Species of plant

Artemisia herba-alba, the white wormwood, is a perennial shrub in the genus Artemisia that grows commonly on the dry steppes of the Mediterranean regions in Northern Africa, Western Asia and Southwestern Europe. It is used as an antiseptic and antispasmodic in herbal medicine.

<i>Artemisia argyi</i> Species of mugwort daisy

Artemisia argyi, commonly known as silvery wormwood or Chinese mugwort, is a herbaceous perennial plant with a creeping rhizome. It is native to China, Korea, Mongolia, Japan, and the Russian Far East. It is known in Chinese as àicǎo or ài yè or ài hao, in Japanese as Chōsen yomogi and in Korean as Hwanghae ssuk. It is used in herbal medicine for conditions of the liver, spleen and kidney.

Alpinia nigra is a medium-sized herb belonging to the ginger family. The rhizome is well known in many Asian cultures as a medicinal and culinary item. In many Asian tribal communities it is a part of the diet along with rice.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bader, Ammar; Flamini, Guido; Cioni, Pier Luigi; Morelli, Ivano (2003-01-01). "Essential oil composition of Achillea santolina L. and Achillea biebersteinii Afan. collected in Jordan". Flavour and Fragrance Journal. 18 (1): 36–38. doi:10.1002/ffj.1147. ISSN   1099-1026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Al-Snafi, Ali Esmail (September 2013). "Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Milfoil (Achillea santolina). A Review". International Journal of PharmTech Research. 5: 1373–1377.
  3. Khan, Murad Ali (1998). "Chemical constituents of Centaurea iberica and Achillea santolina, and synthesis of myoglobin and insulin" (PDF). International Center for Chemical Sciences via Google Scholar.
  4. 1 2 Nemeth, E.; Bernath, J. (2008-10-01). "Biological Activities of Yarrow Species (Achillea spp.)". Current Pharmaceutical Design. 14 (29): 3151–3167. doi:10.2174/138161208786404281. ISSN   1381-6128. PMID   19075697.
  5. 1 2 "Book Review". International Journal of Crude Drug Research. 20 (3): 112. 1982. doi:10.3109/13880208209055180. ISSN   0167-7314.