Phytochemical characterization of different yarrow species (Achillea sp.) and investigations into their antimicrobial activity

Lysanne Apel; Peter Lorenz; Sabine Urban; Simon Sauer; Otmar Spring; Florian C. Stintzing; Dietmar R. Kammerer

doi:10.1515/znc-2020-0149

Article

Phytochemical characterization of different yarrow species (Achillea sp.) and investigations into their antimicrobial activity

Lysanne Apel , Peter Lorenz , Sabine Urban , Simon Sauer , Otmar Spring , Florian C. Stintzing and Dietmar R. Kammerer

Published/Copyright: September 7, 2020

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From the journal Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C Volume 76 Issue 1-2

Abstract

Various Achillea species are rich in bioactive compounds and are important medicinal plants in phytotherapy. In the present study, Achillea millefolium L., Achillea moschata Wulfen, and Achillea atrata L. were compared with respect to their phenolic profile and antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria strains (Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium). Particular focus was given to A. atrata, which has hardly been studied so far. Based on the metabolite profile, A. atrata exhibited more similarities to A. moschata than to A. millefolium. The former two only differed in the occurrence of four compounds. The flavonols syringetin-3-O-glucoside and mearnsetin-hexoside, not reported for an Achillea species before, have been detected in A. atrata and A. moschata. All Achillea species reduced growth of the tested bacteria. A. atrata demonstrated highest activity against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, both being involved in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Furthermore, A. atrata has a pronounced anti–methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus potential. Bioassay-guided fractionation revealed that only the most polar fraction of A. moschata displayed antimicrobial activity, which was attributed to phenolics such as apigenin, centaureidin, and nevadensin, being present in high amounts in A. atrata. Thus, this alpine species shows promising antimicrobial activity and might be a potential source for developing novel dermal/topical drugs.

Keywords: Achillea atrata; Achillea millefolium; Achillea moschata; phenolic metabolome

Corresponding author: Dietmar R. Kammerer, Department of Analytical Development & Research, WALA Heilmittel GmbH, Section Phytochemical Research, Bad Boll, Eckwälden, Germany, E-mail: dietmar.kammerer@wala.de

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Prof. Dr. Klas Diederich (Wuppertal, Germany) for identifying and providing Achillea atrata L. plant material from Switzerland.

Author contributions: Lysanne Apel, Dietmar R. Kammerer, and Peter Lorenz contributed to study conception and design; Lysanne Apel, Sabine Urban, and Simon Sauer contributed to data acquisition; Lysanne Apel, Sabine Urban, and Simon Sauer contributed to data analysis and interpretation; Lysanne Apel and Dietmar R. Kammerer contributed to drafting of the manuscript; Dietmar R. Kammerer, Florian C. Stintzing, and Otmar Spring contributed to critical revision throughout the study.
Research funding: None declared.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Received: 2020-06-26

Accepted: 2020-08-11

Published Online: 2020-09-07

Published in Print: 2021-01-27

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https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-2020-0149

Keywords for this article

Achillea atrata; Achillea millefolium; Achillea moschata; phenolic metabolome