YARROW (ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM LINN.) A HERBAL MEDICINAL PLANT WITH BROAD THERAPEUTIC USE - A REVIEW. Review Article

This review gives an account of the current knowledge on the morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects of yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, it is called plumajillo, or little feather, for the shape of the leaves. A wide range of chemical compounds have been isolated, mainlyisovaleric acid, salicylic acid, asparagin, sterols, flavonoids, bitters, tannins, and coumarins. Different parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine as diaphoretic, astringent, tonic, stimulant and mild aromatic, cold and influenza, Amenorrhea, antiphlogistic. The aerial parts of the plant are used for phlegm conditions, as a bitter digestive tonic to encourage bile flow, and as a diuretic. The alkaloids extracted from the leaves of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) are reported to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. yarrow (Achillea millefolium) shows several characteristic pharmacological effects like gastroprotective, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiseptic, Expectorant, carminative activity which are consistent with the reported uses of the plant extracts in the indigenous system of medicine. Hence the present article includes the detailed exploration of morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in an attempt to provide a direction for further research.