Yarrow, like many plants and herbs, contains many flavonoids including apigenin and luteolin. Different species from yarrow are used against gastrointestinal and hepato-biliary disorders in traditional European medicine. Very little research is available on the medicinal uses of yarrow. In lab studies, flavonoids from yarrow have been shown to help relieve smooth muscle spasms.

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Spasmolytic effect
In isolated guinea pig ilea, flavonoids from yarrow -- the aglycones Quercetin, luteolin and apigenin -- exhibited high antispasmodic activities mainly by blockade of the calcium inward current, but additionally also by mediator-antagonistic effects. Spasmolytic or antispasmodic refer to a substance used to relieve or prevent spasms (especially of the smooth muscles).

Yarrow herb Research Update
Choleretic effects of yarrow (Achillea millefolium s.l.) in the isolated perfused rat liver.
Phytomedicine. 2005 Nov 19;
Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, PharmaCenter Vienna, Althanstrasse Vienna, Austria.
In this work, a fraction enriched in dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCCAs) and luteolin-7-O-beta-d-glucuronide was investigated on its choleretic effect in the isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) compared to cynarin (1,3-DCCA), the main choleretic compound of Cynara scolymus L. A fraction containing 3,4-, 3,5- and 4,5-DCCA and luteolin-7-O-beta-d-glucuronide was prepared by solid phase extraction from a 20% methanolic extract of yarrow. A total amount of 48.8% DCCAs and 3.4% luteolin-7-O-beta-d-glucuronide was determined by HPLC analysis with cynarin as internal standard. IPRL experiments revealed a dose-dependant increase in bile flow (23-44-47%) by the Achillea fraction. Choleresis was two- to three-fold higher than that of cynarin. The combined effect of DCCAs and luteolin-7-O-beta-d-glucuronide stimulated bile flow more effectively than the single compound cynarin. Due to their polar structure, these compounds are quantitatively extracted into teas and tinctures; hence, they seem to be the choleretic active principles in the traditional application forms of yarrow.

[Experimental study of the effect of the phytomixture made of leaves of Plantago major L. and Achillea millenfolium L. - yarrow - on the secretion activity of the stomach in dogs]
Eksp Klin Gastroenterol. 2005;(4):73-6, 113.
In this study, the author used plants with an obvious anti-ulcerous effect, which are often jointly included in gastroenterological phytomixtures. It was shown that the extract from leaves of Plantago major L. has a stimulating effect on gastric secretion, mostly on parietal cells. The extract from yarrow reduced aggressive properties and enhanced protective properties of gastric juice. The common effect was demonstrated by the increased acid production and enhanced protective properties of gastric mucus.

Chemical Variability in the Essential Oil Components of Achillea millefolium Agg. ( yarrow ) from Different Himalayan Habitats (India).
Planta Med. 2005 Mar;71(3):280-3.
Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu (J and K), India.
Essential oil diversity was studied in wild Achillea millefolium (yarrow) from two different high altitude Himalayan habitats (1600 m, 2850 m) and their cultivated populations under uniform environmental conditions at lower altitudes of Jammu (300 m). The populations proved to represent two different ecotypes: the 1,8-cineole type and the borneol type with appreciable differences in the contents of oils and mono- and sesquiterpenes. Populations from all these habitats showed considerable overlap in various constituents and the major components were characterized as beta-pinene (10.6 % - 17.7 %), 1,8-cineole (3.0 % - 15.1 %), borneol (0.2 % - 12.1 %), and beta-caryophyllene (8.5 % - 16.2 %). No variation in morphology and chromosome number was observed under comparable environmental conditions from different habitats. Preliminary investigation indicates the existence of different ecotypes from the Himalayan habitats.

[Phytochemical investigations regarding the flavonoidic compounds of some species belonging to the Achillea millefolium L. group ( yarrow )]
Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2004 Jan-Mar;108(1):177-80.
In this study a qualitative and quantitative analysis of flavonoids from flower heads of Achillea species belonging to the A. millefolium L. group - yarrow - was achieved. Rutin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside in the methanolic extract of A. collina J. Becker ex Reichenb., A. pratensis Saukel et Langer, A. millefolium L. were determined by comparison of their Rf-TLC data with those obtained from reference flavonoids. Apart from flavonoid glycosides, the free aglycones, apigenin and luteolin were identified by TLC. Flavonoidic compounds have been detected by spectrophotometric method in concentrations of appr. 0.5-1.8% in plant materials.

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