DETERMINATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPONENTS OF ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF ALBANIA

Abstract: Medicinal plants are increasingly being used as an alternative to synthetic products, finding use not only in traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industry but also in the food and cosmetic industries due to their nutritional properties and bioactivity. Based on their economic, ecological and scientific value, they constitute one of the national natural assets of great importance. One of the widely spread plants in Albania is Achillea millefolium, a plant of the Asteraceae family with therapeutic properties. The health benefits of this plant's extracts result from a variety of secondary metabolites that include flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, guaianolides, phytosterols, fatty acids, and organic acids. This study is focused on the evaluation of chemical components of Achillea millefolium essential oil using the hydro distillation method with gas chromatography, using flame ionization gas chromatograph. The plant material was collected in May-July 2023 in 4 different areas of Albania (Kukës, Tirana, Librazhd, Përmet). Obtained results showed that the essential oil of Achillea millefolium has a high content of secondary metabolites. The most abundant components are: alpha pinene (1.9-4.13%), beta-Pinene (6.8 – 12.1%), Cineole (7.68 -24,33 %), Camphor (2.64-4,23%), Borneol (19,62-20.72%), Azulenes (3.19–17,83%), Cineol (17.6– 24.33 %).