Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) is a perennial herb used in Mexican folk medicine. It’s common name is Yarrow or Milfoil.

It is commonly used to treat several diseases and pathologies. These include inflammatory and spasmodic gastrointestinal disorders, skin inflammation, hepatobiliary complaints, overactive cardiovascular, respiratory ailments and diabetes.

Anti-Microbial Activity

The essential oil and to a very small extent, the methanol extracts are active against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria:- Streptococcus pneumoniae, Clostridium perfringens, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Acinetobacter lwoffii and Candida krusei. (Candan et al., 2003).

Diabetes

A mouse model was used to test the antidiabetic effect of an hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium (HAEAm). The extract appears to affect a number of targets associated with diabetes. These include inhibition of α-glucosidase enzymes which is an antihyperglycemic benefit, a hypoglycemic effect which revolves around insulin secretion and one raised gene levels in cells sensitive to insulin itself.

References

Candan, F., Unlu, M., Tepe, B., Daferera, D., Polissiou, M., Sökmen, A., & Akpulat, H. A. (2003). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and methanol extracts of Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium Afan.(Asteraceae). J. Ethnopharmacology, 87(2), pp. 215-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(03)00149-1

Chavez-Silva, F., Ceron-Romero, L., Arias-Duran, L., Navarrete-Vasquez, G. et al., (2018) Antidiabetic effect of Achillea millefollium through multitarget interactions: α-glucosidases inhibition, insulin sensitization and insulin secretagogue activities. J. Ethnopharmacology. 212 pp. 1-7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.10.005

Potrich, F. B., Allemand, A., da Silva, L. M., dos Santos, A. C., Baggio, C. H., Freitas, C. S., … & Marques, M. C. A. (2010). Antiulcerogenic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium L.: involvement of the antioxidant system. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 130(1), pp. 85-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.04.014