Obtaining and characterization of Achillea millefolium L. extracts

The paper presents the obtaining and characterization of some yarrow ( Achillea millefolium L.) extracts, from various parts of plant. The yarrow essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation method and, in order to characterize them, they were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC$MS). Essential oil extraction yields were in th e range of 0.5$1.2%, the main compounds being cycli c monoterpenes (such as α$ and β$pinene, β$phellandre ne) and sesquiterpenes (caryophyllene, β$cubebene, and camazulene), as well as some related epoxides (eucalyptol, bisabolol$oxides). The highest concentration in yarrow flower extract was found for β$pinene and camazulene (17% and 13%, respectively), while for leaf extract the main compound was α$bisabolol. Camazulene was in very high concentration in yarrow root and steam extracts (34% and 46%, respectively).