Nemeth E, Bernath J
Corvinus University of Budapest, Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, H-1118 Budapest, Villányi str. 29-35, Hungary.
Curr Pharm Des. 2008;14(29):3151-67. doi: 10.2174/138161208786404281.
The genus Achillea consists of about 140 perennial herbs native to the Northern hemisphere. Traditional indications of their use include digestive problems, liver and gall-bladder conditions, menstrual irregularities, cramps, fever, wound healing. The Commission E approves its internal use for loss of appetite and dyspeptic ailments (gastric catarrh, spastic discomfort), externally it is used in form of sitz bath or as a compress against skin inflammation, slow healing wounds, bacterial or fungal infections. In the last decades, pharmacological studies became intensive, although human clinical investigations are still rare. Recent findings have confirmed several traditional uses. The largest number of data accumulated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. There are positive results on the analgesic, anti-ulcer, choleretic, hepatoprotective and wound healing activities. First results on other interesting therapeutical areas - antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antitumor, antispermatogenic activities -need confirmation. Yarrow can be used also as an insect repellent. Contact dermatitis as adverse effect may be connected to sesquiterpenes. The diversity and complexity of the effective compounds of yarrow species explains the broad spectrum of their activity. According to the literature the pharmacological effects are mainly due to the essential oil, proazulenes and other sesquiterpene lactones, dicaffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids. Synergistic actions of these and other compounds are also supposed. Achillea species have different chemical and therapeutical values. Despite of numerous data, correct evaluation of the results is difficult because of missing generally accepted taxonomical nomenclature. The used chemical-analytical methods and bio-assays are utmost diverse, making the comparison complicated. Further research on the activity is needed using exactly defined plant material, standardized methods and chemical analysis.
蓍属约有140种多年生草本植物，原产于北半球。其传统用途包括治疗消化问题、肝脏和胆囊疾病、月经不调、痉挛、发烧、伤口愈合。德国委员会E批准其内服用于治疗食欲不振和消化不良疾病（胃炎、痉挛性不适），外用则以坐浴或敷布的形式用于治疗皮肤炎症、伤口愈合缓慢、细菌或真菌感染。在过去几十年中，药理学研究不断深入，尽管人体临床研究仍然很少。最近的研究结果证实了其一些传统用途。积累的最多数据集中在抗氧化和抗炎作用方面。在镇痛、抗溃疡、利胆、保肝和伤口愈合活性方面也有积极成果。在其他有趣的治疗领域——抗高血压、抗糖尿病、抗肿瘤、抗生精活性——的初步结果尚需证实。蓍草也可用作驱虫剂。接触性皮炎作为不良反应可能与倍半萜有关。蓍草属植物有效成分的多样性和复杂性解释了其广泛的活性谱。根据文献，药理作用主要归因于精油、前薁类化合物和其他倍半萜内酯、二咖啡酰奎宁酸和黄酮类化合物。这些化合物与其他化合物之间也可能存在协同作用。蓍草属植物具有不同的化学和治疗价值。尽管有大量数据，但由于缺乏普遍接受的分类命名法，对结果进行正确评估仍很困难。所使用的化学分析方法和生物测定方法差异极大，使得比较变得复杂。需要使用确切定义的植物材料、标准化方法和化学分析对其活性进行进一步研究。
