Determination of Carbonic Anhydrase and Level of Zn in the Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium)

The carbonic anhydrase (CA: Carbonate hydrolyase: E.C.4.2.1.1) content from the leaves and flowers of mature yarrow (Achillea millefolium), a plant believed to possess healing qualities, was purified and characterized. The purification levels were 35.58 fold in the leaves and 40.21 fold in the flowers. The optimum temperatures were 25C and 40C for the leaves and flowers, respectively, and optimal pH was 12.5 in the leaves and in flowers this pH varied between 3.5 and 10. In gel filtration chromatography, the molecular weights of leaf carbonic anhydrase were determined to be 29, 36, and 40 kDa. The molecular weights of the flowers were 29, 34, 36and 40 kDa, and these proteins exhibited activity. The level of Zn in the leaves and flowers of the yarrow, the amounts of total Zn, and Zn found in carbonic anhydrase as a cofactor were calculated.