Effect of extraction solvent on bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of Achillea millefolium L. grown in Kosovo region

Achillea millefolium L. is a plant of the family Asteraceae, commonly known as yarrow, which grows and is being distributed in countries of Europe. Achillea millefolium L. has been traditionally used in medicine. The medical properties of Achillea millefolium L. have been known for a long time. This study aims at assessments of the total phenolic content, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of Achillea millefolium L. flowers, grown in Kosovo region. Solvent extracts with different polarity (aqueous, ethanol-EtOH, methanol-MeOH, ethyl acetate-EtOAc, acetone) from the flowers of Achillea millefolium L. are analyzed. The total phenolic and flavonoid quantities were analyzed by using Folin–Ciocalteu’s and AlCl3 reagents, respectively. The antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH in vitro assay methods. The extract obtained by methanol showed the highest total antioxidant activity and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (51.9±0.3 μMol/g). The same extract also exhibited the highest phenolic content (52.6±0.3 mg GAE/g) and the highest flavonoid content (27.8±0.2 mg CE/g). Further studies need the assessment to quantify and isolate the phytochemicals from Achillea millefolium L. flowers, grown within the Kosovo region, which might serve as a cheap natural antioxidants in food and drug industry.