Antioxidant Activity and Ethno pharmacological Survey of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. in the Treatment of Dysmenorrhoea in Traditional Medicine of Golestan Province, Iran

In the past two decades, increasing consumption of synthetic drugs and its associated side effects has led World Health Organization (WHO) to study the antioxidant activity of this plant. It also conducted an ethno botanical survey of endemic medicinal plants studying its uses by the rural populations in order to prevent and treat many current diseases (1). Achillea species such as Achillea millefolium and Achillea biebersteinii Afan. are antispasmodic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer and antioxidant agents mainly used for gastrointestinal disorders, estrogen-related effects, menstrual irregularities, wound care and skin inflammation (2,3). Achillea biebersteinii Afan. locally named as “Yellow marabou” in Asteraceae family, is a wide spread medicinal plant, found mainly in Europe, Asia and the USA. Its flowers appear from June to September and are widely used as antiulcer, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and anti hemorrhagic agent treating numerous illnesses, and especially used as sedative in treating dysmenorrhoea (4). Rural communities in the mountainous southwest region of Golestan province (namely Charbagh and Deraznoo areas) in north of Iran have a long original tradition of using plants as an antispasmodic, antiseptic , sedative and anti-inflammatory agent to treat gastrointestinal disorders, dyspeptic complaints, stomach ache, dysmenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea (5). Thus this study was carried out and extensive data on the antioxidant activity of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. was collected from the proficient local practitioners of ethnic traditional medicine in Golestan province.