Identification of chemical composition of essential oil from the leaves of Achillea millefolium subsp. elbursensis

Background & Aim: Achillea millefolium is one of the most valuable medicinal and industrial species, which is available in the Iran pastures, and it belongs to the Asteraceae family. This plant wild grows in plains, roadsides and mountain areas. Therapeutically, it has been a healer of wounds, and due to having tannins and bitter and aromatic substances, it has an effect on the nervous system and heart. The plant has two subspecies in Iran, including Achillea millefolium subsp. elbursensis and Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium. These two subspecies, in terms of the apparent specificities, have been very similar, and only in terms of the height, size and color of the inflorescence, are different from each other. The main aim of this study was to identify chemical composition of essential oil from the leaves of Achillea millefolium subsp. elbursensis. Experimental: The samples of leaves of Achillea millefolium subsp. elbursensis, during flowering, were collected from a natural habitat in Dizin (3350 m a.s.l).  The essential oil of the plant was isolated by hydro-distillation. Chemical composition of volatile oil of A. millefolium subsp. elbursensis was analyzed by capillary GC and GC/ MS. Results & Discussion: Results indicated that essential oil yield of A. millefolium subsp. elbursensis was 0.82% (v/w). According to results of GC/MS analysis for the essential oil, 20 compounds identified. The main constituents in the essential oil of A. millefolium subsp. elbursensis was chamazulene (69.2%), 1,8-cineole (4.9%), and E-caryophyllene (4.4%). Recommended applications/industries: Based on the results of this study, the subspecies elbursensis, is a rich and unique source for chamazulene, which should be preserved as an indigenous genetic resource, in the natural environment, and strategies for its culture and building mass, must be provided.