Camphor yarrow

Achillea alpina L. A. millefolium L. Shi Cao (Siberian yarrow) (aerial part) Alkaloids, essential oils, achillin, flavonoides, betonicine, achilleine, d-camphor, oxalic acids, ether oils, hydroxycinnamic acids, hydrocyanic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, anthocyanidines, anthraquinones, phytosterines, carotene, coumarins, monoterpene, sesquiterpene glucosides, desacetylmatricarin.33-222-450 Antibacterial, treat menopause, abdominal pain, acute intestinal disorder, wound infection, snakebite. 

Chamazulene is till today the most important component of the distilled oil of yarrow. In general, the proazulene accumulation potential of Achillea collina (4n) and its relatives, Achillea asplenifolia anA Achillea roseoalba (2e), seems to be widely accepted (Saukel and Langer, 1992 Rauchensteiner et al., 2002 Nemeth et al., 2007). However, even here, some divergent results can be found in the literature. In plant samples from Yugoslavia, Chalchat et al. (2000) could not identify chamazulene, but 1,8 cineole, chrysanthenone, and camphor are mentioned as main components. Recently, Todorova et al. (2007) presented three chemotypes of A. collina (azulene-rich, azulene-poor, sesquiterpene free one based on the analysis of samples from six different populations in Bulgaria. 

Yarrow contains about 0.1-1.4% volatile oil that is composed of azulene (0.51%), a-and P-pinenes (mainly P-), caryophyllene, bomeol, terpineol, cineole, bomyl acetate, camphor, sabinene, isoartemisia ketone, and other compounds (including a trace of thu-jone). The relative composition varies considerably (especially its azulene content) depending on sources (horhammer). A. millefolium L. sensu stricto (a hexaploid) contains no azeulene. Its oil primarily contains monoterpenes including linalool (26%),... 

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