Vasoprotective activity of standardized Achillea millefolium extract

Overview of Ethnobotanical-Pharmacological Studies Carried Out on Medicinal Plants from the Serra da Estrela Natural Park: Focus on Their Antidiabetic Potential

The Serra da Estrela Natural Park (NPSE) in Portugal stands out as a well-preserved region abundant in medicinal plants, particularly known for their pharmaceutical applications in diabetes prevention and treatment. This comprehensive review explores these plants' botanical diversity, traditional uses, pharmacological applications, and chemical composition. The NPSE boast a rich diversity with 138 medicinal plants across 55 families identified as traditionally and pharmacologically used against diabetes globally. Notably, the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families are prevalent in antidiabetic applications. In vitro studies have revealed their significant inhibition of carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, and certain plant co-products regulate genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and insulin secretion. In vivo trials have demonstrated antidiabetic effects, including glycaemia regulation, insulin secretion, antioxidant activity, and lipid profile modulation. Medicinal plants in NPSE exhibit various activities beyond antidiabetic, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and more. Chemical analyses have identified over fifty compounds like phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides responsible for their efficacy against diabetes. These findings underscore the potential of NPSE medicinal plants as antidiabetic candidates, urging further research to develop effective plant-based antidiabetic drugs, beverages, and supplements.

Three New Acrylic Acid Derivatives from Achillea mellifolium as Potential Inhibitors of Urease from Jack Bean and α-Glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

(1) Background: Achillea mellifolium belongs to a highly reputed family of medicinal plants, with plant extract being used as medicine in indigenous system. However, limited data is available regarding the exploitation of the medicinal potential of isolated pure compounds from this family; (2) Methods: A whole plant extract was partitioned into fractions and on the basis of biological activity, an ethyl acetate fraction was selected for isolation of pure compounds. Isolated compounds were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. The compounds isolated from this study were tested for their medicinal potential using in-vitro enzyme assay, coupled with in-silico studies; (3) Results: Three new acrylic acid derivatives (1–3) have been isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Achillea mellifolium. The characterization of these compounds (1–3) was carried out using UV/Vis, FT-IR, 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy (¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, HMBC, NOESY) and mass spectrometry. These acrylic acid derivatives were further evaluated for their enzyme inhibition potential against urease from jack bean and α glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using both in-silico and in-vitro approaches. In-vitro studies showed that compound 3 has the highest inhibition against urease enzyme (IC₅₀ =10.46 ± 0.03 μΜ), followed by compound 1 and compound 2 with percent inhibition and IC₅₀ value of 16.87 ± 0.02 c and 13.71 ± 0.07 μΜ, respectively, compared to the standard (thiourea-IC₅₀ = 21.5 ± 0.01 μΜ). The investigated IC₅₀ value of compound 3 against the urease enzyme is two times lower compared to thiourea, suggesting that this compound is twice as active compared to the standard drug. On the other hand, all three compounds (1–3) revealed mild inhibition potential against α-glucosidase. In-silico molecular docking studies, in combination with MD simulations and free energy, calculations were also performed to rationalize their time evolved mode of interaction inside the active pocket. Binding energies were computed using a MMPBSA approach, and the role of individual residues to overall binding of the inhibitors inside the active pockets were also computed; (4) Conclusions: Together, these studies confirm the inhibitory potential of isolated acrylic acid derivatives against both urease and α-glucosidase enzymes; however, their inhibition potential is better for urease enzyme even when compared to the standard.

Protective effect of D-(-)-quinic acid as food supplement in modulating AMP-activated protein kinase signalling pathway activation in HFD induced obesity

BACKGROUND

Dietary quinic acid given as the nutritional supplement, which may leads to tryptophan and nicotinamide production in the intestinal tract and NAD⁺ precursor which can prevent from the negative consequences of high fat diet (HFD) consumption.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to assess in vivo and in vitro effect of D-(-)-Quinic acid in high-fat diet induced hyperlipidemia in mice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty six albino mice were randomly divided in six groups and each group had six mice. Group I, controlled mice given normal pellet diet, Group-II mice, administered with high fat diet (HFD), Group-III mice given standard drug, Atorvastatin (20 mg/kg, p.o.) along with HFD to mice and Group IV, V and VI mice received D-(-)-Quinic acid at a dose of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg, respectively in separate group along with HFD to mice. After completion of trial (49 days) the animals were sacrificed and evaluated for body weight, organ fat pad weight, and changes in weight of liver, heart and kidney and also for biochemical parameters, expression of adipogenic and inflammation markers in adipose tissues, and histology examination of liver tissue.

RESULTS

In vitro testing results showed, D-(-)-Quinic acid potentially inhibit α-glucosidase enzyme activity as compared to acarbose. The D-(-)-Quinic acid showed significant hypolipidemic activity by decreasing the increased level of cholesterol, triglyceride level, LDL, VLDL and other hepatic parameters like SGOT and SGPT in serum. D-(-)-Quinic acid reduces the mRNA expression level of PPAR-γ2, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in adipose tissue in hyperlipidemic mice.

Antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effect of leucodin and achillin isolated from Achillea millefolium through calcium channel blockade and NO production: In vivo, functional ex vivo and in silico studies

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae), known as yarrow (milenrama), is a plant used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and related diseases.

AIM

To determine the vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effect of A. millefollium and to isolate the main bioactive antihypertensive agents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Organic (hexane, dichloromethane and methanol) and hydro-alcohol (Ethanol-H2O: 70:30) extracts obtained from flowers, leaves and stems were evaluated on isolated aorta rat rings with and without endothelium to determine their vasorelaxant effect. Hexane extract from flowers (HEAmF) was studied to evaluate its antihypertensive effect on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). From HEAmF, bioactive compounds were obtained by bio-guided phytochemical separation through chromatography.

RESULTS

Organic extracts showed the best vasorelaxant activity. Hexane extract from flowers was the most potent and efficient ex vivo vasorelaxant agent, showing significant decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in SHR (p < 0.05). Phytochemical separation of HEAmF yielded two epimeric sesquiterpene lactones: leucodin (1) and achillin (2), the major components of the extract. Both 1 and 2 showed similar vasorelaxant action ex vivo (p < 0.05), and their effects where modified by L-NAME (10 μM, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), by ODQ (1 μM, soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor), and also relaxed the contraction induced by KCl (80 mM). Finally, 1 and 2 intragastric administration (50 mg/kg) decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure in SHR.

CONCLUSIONS

Achillea millefolium showed antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects, due mainly to leucodin and achillin (epimers). Both compounds showed antihypertensive activity by vasorelaxation putatively by endothelium-dependent NO release and cGMP increase, as well as by calcium channels blockade.

An Overview on the Conservative Management of Endometriosis from a Naturopathic Perspective: Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating disease, which affects millions of young women worldwide. Although medicine has incontestably evolved in the last years, there is no common ground regarding the early and accurate diagnosis of this condition, its pathogenic mechanisms, and curative treatment. Even though the spontaneous resolution of endometriosis is sometimes possible, recent reports suggested that it can be a progressive condition. It can associate chronic pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, infertility, or malignant degenerescence. Conventional treatments could produce many side effects, and despite treatment, the symptoms may reappear. In recent years, experimental evidence suggested that plant-based medicine could exert beneficial effects on endometriosis and endometriosis-related symptoms. This study aims to highlight the pharmaceutical activity of phytochemicals and medicinal plants against endometriosis and to provide a source of information regarding the alternative treatment of this condition. Methods: For this review, we performed a research using PubMed, GoogleScholar, and CrossRef databases. We selected the articles published between January 2000 and July 2020, written in English. Results: We found 17 medicinal plants and 13 phytochemicals, which have demonstrated their beneficial effects against endometriosis. Several of their biological activities consist of antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory effects, and oxidative-stress reduction. Conclusion: Medicinal herbs and their bioactive compounds exhibit antiangiogenic, antioxidant, sedative and pain-alleviating properties and the effects recorded until now encourage their use for the conservative management of endometriosis.

Three new acrylic acid derivatives from Achillea mellifolium as potential thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor: molecular docking and MD simulation studies

Discovery of potent inhibitors of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) can offer appropriate approach in cancer treatment owing to it's over expression in various human tumors compared to normal healthy tissues. Thymidine phosphorylase alongside 2-deoxy-D-ribose are reported as promoters of unwanted angiogenesis in cancerous cells. In this study, three new acrylic acid derivatives (1-3) have been isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of Achillea mellifolium. The characterization of these compounds (1-3) was done using UV, IR, 1 D and 2 D-NMR spectroscopy (¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, HMBC, NOESY) and mass spectrometry. The structure of these acrylic acid derivatives were ethyl (E)-3-((1S,5R)-5-methoxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxocyclohex-2-en-1-yl)acrylate (1), methyl (E)-3-((1S,5R)-5-methoxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxocyclohex-2-en-1-yl)acrylate (2) and (4S,6R)-6-methoxy-3,5,5-trimethyl-4-((E)-3-oxobut-1-en-1-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (3). Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) inhibition studies showed compound 3 as most active inhibitor of TP with IC₅₀ value 57.81 ± 3.41 while compound 1 and 2 showed IC₅₀ value as 158.9 ± 0.97 and 89.92 ± 0.37, respectively. In addition, molecular docking studies of compound (1-3) were performed to shed light on their binding interaction patterns for binding into active pocket of TP. Similarly, all compounds (1-3) were evaluated for their anti-oxidant potential showing anti-oxidant activities with IC₅₀ value ranging from 49.73 ± 0.41 to 79.81 ± 0.39. Later, these compound-protein (1-3) complexes were further subjected to MD simulations studies (50 ns) involving root mean square deviation, root mean square fluctuation, and secondary structure analysis to explore their binding mode stability inside active pocket. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Phytochemical profiling and ameliorative effects of Achillea cretica L. on rat model of endometriosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Achillea cretica (AC) is a medicinal plant emphasized for treatment of gynecological disorders and pathological symptoms similar to endometriosis in traditional Persian medicine. Since information about its chemical constituents is limited, the aim of this study is to investigate phenolic composition of AC extract as well as its effect on experimental model of endometriosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RP-HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS analysis was used for the determination of polyphenolic compounds. Endometriosis was induced in rats by suturing of uterus segments to abdominal wall of same rat, after eight weeks when the model was induced, it was followed by 28 days of treatment with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day of hydroethanolic extract of the plant. Blood samples and implanted tissues were collected in the final day, and area of foci, tumor necrosis factor-α, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-6, and serum total thiol molecules were measured and compared with positive group (0.2 mg/kg/day letrozole) and control group (solvent of extract: normal saline). Implanted tissue sections of the sacrificed rats were also assessed histopathologically.

RESULTS

Nine polyphenolic compounds were identified in AC extract including 7 flavonoids and 2 phenolic acids. Plant extract decreased area of foci and cytokine levels in serum and local tissue. Histopathological assessments confirmed the effectiveness of treatments by decreasing the thickness of epithelial layer and increasing the infiltration of leukocytes into this layer. Doses of 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of extract showed better effects in comparison with the dose of 200 mg/kg in reduction of cytokine levels and size of implanted tissue. Extract and letrozole did not demonstrate significant effect on thiol level.

CONCLUSION

AC aerial extract may be a favorable medicine for management of endometriosis by modulating inflammatory cytokines; however, further studies are needed for more conclusive and reliable decision about its efficacy and safety.

Tracheal relaxation through calcium channel blockade of Achillea millefolium hexanic extract and its main bioactive compounds

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) is used for the treatment of respiratory diseases, diabetes, and hypertension.

AIM

to explore its tracheal relaxant properties and clarify its functional mechanism of action on smooth muscle cells, which allow us to propose it as a potential anti-asthmatic drug.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

organic and hydro-alcoholic extracts from A. millefolium were obtained by macerations, then their relaxing effect on ex vivo isolated rat trachea rings was determined. Most active extract (hexanic extract, EHAm) was studied to determine its functional mechanism of action using synergic, antagonist and inhibitor agents related with the contraction/relaxation process of the smooth muscle. Also, EHAm was subjected to bio-guided fractionation by open-column chromatography (on silica gel) using cyclohexane-EtOAc (80:20) in an isocratic way to isolate main bioactive compounds.

RESULTS

organic and hydro-alcoholic extracts showed relaxant effect in a concentration-response dependent manner, being EHAm the most active. The functional mechanism of action indicates that EHAm induced a non-competitive antagonism to the muscarinic receptors ; in addition, the NO/cGMP pathway is involved in the relaxation process of the tracheal smooth muscle. However, the most important mechanism of action showed by EHAm was related with the calcium channel blockade influx into the smooth muscle cells. On the other hand, epimeric sesquiterpene lactones leucodin (1) and achillin (2) were isolated and purified, which are responsible for the observed smooth muscle relaxant activity of the extract.

CONCLUSION

hexanic extract of A. millefollium induced a significant relaxant effect on tracheal rat rings by calcium channel blockade and NO release.

The Phytochemistry of Cherokee Aromatic Medicinal Plants

Background: Native Americans have had a rich ethnobotanical heritage for treating diseases, ailments, and injuries. Cherokee traditional medicine has provided numerous aromatic and medicinal plants that not only were used by the Cherokee people, but were also adopted for use by European settlers in North America. Methods: The aim of this review was to examine the Cherokee ethnobotanical literature and the published phytochemical investigations on Cherokee medicinal plants and to correlate phytochemical constituents with traditional uses and biological activities. Results: Several Cherokee medicinal plants are still in use today as herbal medicines, including, for example, yarrow (Achillea millefolium), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and blue skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). This review presents a summary of the traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and biological activities of Cherokee aromatic and medicinal plants. Conclusions: The list is not complete, however, as there is still much work needed in phytochemical investigation and pharmacological evaluation of many traditional herbal medicines.

Antidiabetic effect of Achillea millefollium through multitarget interactions: α-glucosidases inhibition, insulin sensitization and insulin secretagogue activities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) is a perennial herb used in Mexican folk medicine for treatment of several pathologies, including inflammatory and spasmodic gastrointestinal disorders, hepatobiliary complaints, overactive cardiovascular, respiratory ailments and diabetes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the potential antidiabetic effect in vivo and to establish the potential mode of action through in vitro approaches of Achillea millefolium.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The antidiabetic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium (HAEAm) was evaluated on the oral glucose tolerance tests, in normoglycemic and experimental Type 2 diabetic mice models. In addition, we evaluated the possible mode of action in in vitro assays to determine α-glucosidases inhibition, the insulin secretion and calcium mobilization in RINm5F cells and PPARγ and GLUT4 expression in 3T3-L1 cells.

RESULTS

HAEAm showed significant glucose diminution on oral glucose tolerance test and in acute experimental Type 2 diabetic assay with respect to the control (p < 0.05). In addition, HAEAm promoted the α-glucosidases inhibition by 55% at 1mg/ml respect to control. On the other hand, HAEAm increased the PPARγ (five-times) and GLUT4 (two-fold) relative expression than control (p < 0.05). Finally, HAEAm significantly increased the insulin secretion and [Ca²⁺]_i compared with control.

CONCLUSION

The HAEAm possesses in vivo antidiabetic effect, having such effect through multitarget modes of action that involve antihyperglycemic (α-glucosidases inhibition), hypoglycemic (insulin secretion) and potential insulin sensitizer (PPARγ/GLUT4 overexpression) actions.

Shedding light on the biological and chemical fingerprints of three Achillea species (A. biebersteinii, A. millefolium and A. teretifolia)

Representatives of the Achillea genus are widely used as foods or nutraceuticals. Considering the increasing demand for herbal dietary supplements with health promoting effects, the objective of this research was to evaluate the biological and chemical profiles of different extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol and water) obtained from three Achillea species (A. biebersteinii, A. millefolium and A. teretifolia). The antioxidant (free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP), metal chelating and phosphomolybdenum), enzyme inhibitory (anti-cholinesterase, anti-tyrosinase, anti-amylase and anti-glucosidase) and antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) effects were assessed to investigate their biological profiles. Moreover, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined and LC-MS analysis was performed for the chemical profile of the investigated extracts. The LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several caffeoylquinic acids in these extracts. Generally, the methanol and water extracts exhibited stronger antioxidant abilities, which correlated with the higher levels of phenolic compounds when compared to the ethyl acetate extracts. In addition, the best antimicrobial activities were obtained for the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts. However, the ethyl acetate extract had remarkable enzyme inhibitory potential. On the basis of our results, Achillea species may be promoted as promising sources of natural agents and used for the development of nutraceuticals or functional food ingredients.

Protection against vascular endothelial dysfunction by polyphenols in sea buckthorn berries in rats with hyperlipidemia

Chronic hyperlipemia increases the incidence of vascular endothelial dysfunction and can even induce cardiovascular disease. Sea buckthorn contains a host of bioactives such as flavonoids and polyphenols that can prevent the development of cardiovascular disease. The current study isolated active ingredients, polyphenols, from sea buckthorn berries (SVP) and orally administered SVP at a dose of 7-28 mg/kg. This treatment significantly reduced serum lipids, it enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and it decreased the level of serum TNF-α and IL-6. SVP also alleviate vascular impairment by decreasing the expression of eNOS, ICAM-1, and LOX-1 mRNA and proteins in aortas of rats with hyperlipidemia. Based on these findings, SVP has antioxidant action and it protects endothelium.

The Polyploid Series of the Achillea millefolium Aggregate in the Iberian Peninsula Investigated Using Microsatellites

The Achillea millefolium aggregate is one of the most diverse polyploid complexes of the Northern hemisphere and has its western Eurasian boundary in the Iberian Peninsula. Four ploidy levels have been detected in A. millefolium, three of which have already been found in Iberia (diploid, hexaploid and octoploid), and a fourth (tetraploid) reported during the preparation of this paper. We collected a sample from 26 Iberian populations comprising all ploidy levels, and we used microsatellite markers analyzed as dominant in view of the high ploidy levels. Our goals were to quantify the genetic diversity of A. millefolium in the Iberian Peninsula, to elucidate its genetic structure, to investigate the differences in ploidy levels, and to analyse the dispersal of the species. The lack of spatial genetic structure recovered is linked to both high levels of gene flow between populations and to the fact that most genetic variability occurs within populations. This in turn suggests the existence of a huge panmictic yarrow population in the Iberian Peninsula. This is consistent with the assumption that recent colonization and rapid expansion occurred throughout this area. Likewise, the low levels of genetic variability recovered suggest that bottlenecks and/or founder events may have been involved in this process, and clonal reproduction may have played an important role in maintaining this genetic impoverishment. Indeed, the ecological and phenologic uniformity present in the A. millefolium agg. in Iberia compared to Eurasia and North America may be responsible for the low number of representatives of this complex of species present in the Iberian Peninsula. The low levels of genetic differentiation between ploidy levels recovered in our work suggest the absence of barriers between them.

Radioprotective Effect of Achillea millefolium L Against Genotoxicity Induced by Ionizing Radiation in Human Normal Lymphocytes

The radioprotective effect of Achillea millefolium L (ACM) extract was investigated against genotoxicity induced by ionizing radiation (IR) in human lymphocytes. Peripheral blood samples were collected from human volunteers and incubated with the methanolic extract of ACM at different concentrations (10, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL) for 2 hours. At each dose point, the whole blood was exposed in vitro to 2.5 Gy of X-ray and then the lymphocytes were cultured with mitogenic stimulation to determine the micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cell. Antioxidant capacity of the extract was determined using free radical-scavenging method. The treatment of lymphocytes with the extract showed a significant decrease in the incidence of micronuclei binucleated cells, as compared with similarly irradiated lymphocytes without any extract treatment. The maximum protection and decrease in frequency of micronuclei were observed at 200 μg/mL of ACM extract which completely protected genotoxicity induced by IR in human lymphocytes. Achillea millefolium extract exhibited concentration-dependent radical-scavenging activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radicals. These data suggest that the methanolic extract of ACM may play an important role in the protection of normal tissues against genetic damage induced by IR.

Mechanism of vasorelaxation induced by Achillea wilhelmsii in rat isolated thoracic aorta

BACKGROUND

Achillea wilhelmsii (A. wilhelmsii) is used in Iraninan folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension; also, in previous reports, the hypotensive and antihypertensive effects of this plant have been indicated. The aim of the present study is to investigate the vasorelaxant effect of the hydroalcholic extract of A. wilhelmsii and its underlying mechanisms in isolated rat aorta.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of the hydroalcholic A. wilhelmsii extract was tested on the contractile response of Wistar rat aorta induced by potassium chloride (KCl) and phenylephrine (PE) using a pressure transducer that is connected to the PowerLab.

RESULTS

The cumulative concentrations of A. wilhelmsii (0.5-8 mg/ml) induced a vasorelaxation both in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded aortas precontracted by high K(+) (6 × 10(-2) M) or 10(-6) M PE. A. wilhelmsii, at a concentration of 4 mg/ml, reduced Ca(2+)-induced contraction (P < 0.001 vs. control) after PE or KCl had generated a stable contraction in the Ca(2+)-free solution. Furthermore, after incubation with diltiazem, the vasorelaxant effect of A. wilhelmsii reduced in the endothelium-denuded aortas precontracted by PE or KCl (P < 0.001 vs. control). In contrast, A. wilhelmsii-induced relaxation was not affected by glibenclamide, BaCl2, ruthenium red, methylene blue, or heparin.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that A. wilhelmsii had a vasorelaxation effect, which was not endothelium-dependent. The relaxation was mediated by inhibition of extracellular Ca(2+) influx through voltage- and receptor-operated Ca(2+) channels (VDDCs and ROCCs) in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Chemical composition of wild and commercial Achillea millefolium L. and bioactivity of the methanolic extract, infusion and decoction

Medicinal plants used in folk medicine are being increasingly studied and used on pharmaceutical, food and nutraceutical fields. Herein, wild and commercial samples of Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow) were chemically characterized with respect to their macronutrients, free sugars, organic acids, fatty acids and tocopherols. Furthermore, in vitro antioxidant properties (free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition) and antitumour potential (against breast, lung, cervical and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines) of their methanolic extract, infusion and decoction (the most consumed forms) was evaluated and compared to the corresponding phenolic profile obtained by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Data obtained showed that the chemical profiles of wild and commercial samples, and also their methanolic extract, infusion and decoction were similar, varying only in the quantities found. Commercial yarrow have higher content of fat and saturated fatty acids, proteins, ash, energy value, sugars and flavonoids, while the wild sample revealed higher levels of carbohydrates, organic acids, unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols and phenolic acids. The heterogeneity among the antioxidant and antitumour results of the samples and some low correlations with total phenolic compounds indicates that specific compounds, rather than the totality of them, are involved in the bioactive properties of samples.

Western herbal medicine, epigenetics, and endometriosis

Endometriosis is an enigmatic disease characterized by the presence and growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. The etiology of endometriosis is poorly understood, yet recent evidence suggests that epigenetic aberrations and heritable changes in the genome may be the key to understanding how to approach this disease. Difficulty in long-term management of endometriosis symptoms and unpredictability of treatment outcome necessitate research into other treatment modalities, such as Western herbal medicine. This article reviews commonly used herbs in the treatment of endometriosis, the effects of phytochemical constituents on endometrial cells, and the impact on the epigenome.