|
The genus Achillea comprises over one hundred species and belongs to the Sunflower family; Asteraceae (Compositae). They are most commonly found in the Mediterranean region, Eurasia and North Africa where throughout history aerial parts of different species of Achillea have been used in traditional medicine for treatment of fever, asthma, cough, bronchitis and skin inflammation. Commonly referred to as “Yarrow,” the genus was named for the Greek mythological character Achilles. According to the Iliad, Achilles' soldiers used yarrow to treat wounds.
These plants are medicinal perennial herbs and show large, flat clusters of small flowers at the top of the stem. These flowers can be white, yellow, orange, pink or red. A number of species are popular garden plants and are considered ornamental crops in Europe and the USA. The natural habitats of this genus include primarily roadsides, meadows, forest edges, and mountainous and range lands.
Achillea falcata also called Achillea damascene is endemic to the Mediterranean region and has been used extensively in folk-medicine. Studies at IBSAR aiming to validate its folkloric uses, showed the plant to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. Four purified bioactive molecules were isolated from falcata and were found to exhibit anti-cancer properties at different levels of strength. The molecules suppressed specifically the growth of skin cancer cells at very low doses, by its ability of stopping the cell cycle at early stages. In all studies of falcata’s biological effects, normal cells were not affected.
Related Publications:
-
Comparative Antitumor Effects of Extracts from Selected Indigenous Plants of Lebanon against Colon Cancer using in vitro and in vivo Models. View Thesis Abstract.
-
Identification and characterization of crude and purified extracts from the Indigenous Lebanese plant Ep using in vitro models of squamous cell carcinogenesis: View Thesis Abstract.
-
Inhibition of Endotoxin-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Markers by Water Extracts of Onopordum cynarocephalum and Achillea damascene. View Abstract.
-
Screening of selected indigenous plants of Lebanon for antimicrobial activity: View Abstract
-
Structure-activity relationship of seco-tanapartholides isolated from Achillea falcata for inhibition of HaCaT cell growth: View Abstract |