Achillea arabica
StarAchillea arabica
Synonyms: Achillea micrantha f. tenuisecta, Achillea biebersteinii
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Persian and Anatolian traditional medicine the aerial parts and flowering tops of Achillea arabica (A. biebersteinii) are taken as a decoction or infusion to relieve abdominal and menstrual pain and to regulate menstruation, and the plant is regarded as a tonic, sedative and antispasmodic agent and applied for wound healing, jaundice and other liver complaints (Ghasemi Pirbalouti et al., 2013). Experimental studies of the essential oil in animals support hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity (Sokmen et al., 2016). These uses belong to Middle-Eastern folk and Persian traditional medicine rather than to a classical Western herbal tradition.
Botanical Description
Achillea arabica (widely treated as a synonym of Achillea biebersteinii) is an aromatic perennial herb of the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to the Middle East, the Caucasus, Anatolia, Iran and adjacent Central Asia, where it grows on dry stony slopes, steppe and roadsides. It forms erect, somewhat woolly stems arising from a creeping rootstock. The leaves are soft, greyish-green and finely two- to three-times pinnately dissected into many narrow segments, giving the foliage a feathery, fern-like texture and a strong aromatic scent when crushed. The flower heads are small and numerous, grouped into dense, flat-topped golden-yellow corymbs at the stem tips; each head has a few short ray florets surrounding a cluster of tubular disc florets. The fruit is a small dry achene without a pappus. Rich in essential oil dominated by camphor, 1,8-cineole, piperitone and p-cymene, the plant is fragrant throughout.
Active Constituents
1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol)
Oxygenated monoterpeneConcentration: Major essential-oil component (~9–45% depending on origin)
Often the dominant volatile of A. arabica (= A. biebersteinii); an aromatic oxide with anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antimicrobial activity.
Camphor
Bicyclic monoterpene ketoneConcentration: ~16–30% in central-Anatolian collections
Aromatic ketone contributing counter-irritant and antimicrobial character; toxic if ingested in quantity.
p-Cymene
Aromatic monoterpeneConcentration: ~1–27% of the oil
Aromatic hydrocarbon with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity; a major and variable component of the oil.
cis-Chrysanthenyl acetate
Monoterpene esterConcentration: Up to ~20% in some Iranian samples
Irregular monoterpene ester that can be a leading component of the oil in certain populations.
Ascaridole / piperitone oxide
Monoterpene peroxide / ketone oxideConcentration: Present in variable amounts
Oxygenated monoterpenes that add to bioactivity but, in the case of ascaridole, contribute potential toxicity and sensitisation.
Borneol
Bicyclic monoterpene alcoholConcentration: Minor-to-moderate component
Camphoraceous alcohol contributing aroma and mild analgesic/antimicrobial activity.
Flavonoids and phenolic acids
Flavonoids / hydroxycinnamic acidsConcentration: Present in polar extracts
Flavonoids and phenolic acids account for the free-radical-scavenging (DPPH) and antifungal activity of the extracts, which exceed that of the essential oil.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Anticoagulant / antiplatelet agents
Yarrows (genus Achillea) contain coumarins and flavonoids that could theoretically add to the effect of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Clinical note: Theoretical only; caution in patients on anticoagulants and around surgery.
Preparation Methods
Infusion / decoction (aerial parts)
Parts: flowering tops, leaf
In Middle-Eastern and Anatolian folk medicine the flowering herb is infused or decocted as a digestive, carminative and antimicrobial remedy. Because the plant is essentially A. biebersteinii, the aromatic, camphor/cineole-rich oil should not be taken internally in concentrated form.
Essential oil (external / topical)
Parts: flowering aerial parts
Steam-distilled oil used externally, well diluted, for antimicrobial and counter-irritant purposes. Avoid internal use, use in pregnancy and use in children given the camphor and ascaridole content.
Clinical Studies
Essential Oil Composition of Five Collections of Achillea biebersteinii from Central Turkey and their Antifungal and Insecticidal Activity
Five collections of A. biebersteinii (the name under which A. arabica is widely treated) from central Turkey were analysed; major components were 1,8-cineole (9–37%), camphor (16–30%) and p-cymene (1–27%). The oils and their major constituents were evaluated for antifungal (strawberry anthracnose pathogens) and mosquito larvicidal activity.
Historical Texts
Middle Eastern and Anatolian folk medicine
Traditional / pre-modernReferences
- Tabanca N, Demirci B, Gürbüz İ, Demirci F, Becnel JJ, Wedge DE, Başer KHC. Essential Oil Composition of Five Collections of Achillea biebersteinii from Central Turkey and their Antifungal and Insecticidal Activity . Natural Product Communications (2011) [DOI]
- Strzępek-Gomółka M, Głowniak-Lipa A, Kukula-Koch W, et al.. Achillea Species as Sources of Active Phytochemicals for Dermatological and Cosmetic Applications . Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (2021) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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