Chemical composition, phenolic content, free radical scavenging and antifungal activities of Achillea biebersteinii

In this study, the chemical composition of essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the aerial part of Achillea biebersteinii, growing wild in Iran was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Eleven compounds were identified, representing 96.6% of total components. 1,8-cineole (45.2%), p-cymene (20.8%) and cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (20.4%) were found to be the main components of the oil. The study of the antifungal activity of the essential oil was then carried against five phytopathogenic fungi. High growth inhibitory effects were observed in the investigated oil. Besides, total phenolic contents and DPPH radical scavenging activities of the methanolic extract of A. biebersteinii at different phenological stage including vegetative, floral budding, full flowering (leaves, stem and flowers) and fruit set were assessed for the first time. Variation in total phenolic content and free radical scavenging activities can explained by changes occurred in biological activities and consequently chemical composition of plant throughout the developmental stages. There was a significant correlation between phenolic content and free radical scavenging. The extract of floral budding stage which contained highest phenolic content (113.34 mg GAE/g DW) showed potent free radical scavenging activity (IC50=4.64 µg/ml), and stem extract which have lowest amount of total phenol demonstrated to have weakest IC50 value. As regards the results mentioned above, A. biebersteinii can be applied to the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes for its acceptable antioxidant and antifungal properties.