Anti-babesial potential and chemical composition of essential oil from yarrow Achillea millefolium

Essential oils from plants used in traditional medicine are known as a rich source of chemically diverse compounds with specific biological activities. Achillea millefolium essential oil (AEO) was screened for vitro activity against Babesia canis. The AEO obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). GC-MS revealed the presence 47 oil. Those present highest concentrations were chamazulene (34.45%), β-caryophyllene (8.93%), (E)-germacrene D (7.55%), patchoulene (7.27%), β-guaiene (4.62%), α-humulene (4.59%), santolina epoxide (4.41%), ethyl iso-allocholate (2.97%), aromadendrene (2.62%), neoclovenoxid-alkohol (2.46%). found be active B. canis, 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values 0.06 mg/mL, compared imidocarb, IC50 = 0.007 mg/mL. study confirms that A. has anti-babesial properties vitro.