The potential applications of Achillea species in various industries have encouraged the examination of their phytochemical components along with their biological potential. In the present study, phenolic contents and essential oil compositions together with the in vitro biological activities of the aerial parts from Achillea biebersteinii Afan. and Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium Afan. collected from Turkey were evaluated. Different solvent extracts (n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, water) were prepared and their antimicrobial, anticholinesterase, and antioxidant activities were studied. The LC-MS/MS results revealed the presence of 16 different phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin, and luteolin glycosides, in methanolic extracts. According to GC-FID and GC/MS results, the primary components of the oils were identified as 1,8-cineole (32.5%), piperitone (14.4%), and camphor (13.7%) in A. biebersteinii and 1,8-cineole (12.3%) and β-eudesmol (8.9%) in A. millefolium subsp. millefolium. The infusion and methanolic extracts of both species were found to be rich in their total phenolic content as well as their antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity. In contrast, the n-hexane and chloroform extracts of both species showed strong antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 15 to 2000 μg/mL. Our findings suggest that the investigated Achillea species could be evaluated as potent natural agents, and further studies into the promising extracts are needed.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae) fruits collected from five different localities in Turkey [Zonguldak (S1), Edirne (S2), Balıkesir (S3), Muğla (S4) and Antalya (S5)] were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). β-Caryophyllene (11%) and α-pinene (10%) were identified as major components in the oil of S1. The highest amount of bicyclogermacrene (22.1%) was detected in the essential oil of S2. The major components of the essential oil of S3 were 1,8-cineole (17.8%), sabinene (15.8%), (Z)-β-farnesene (13.5%) and bicyclogermacrene (12.1%). The essential oil compositions of S4 and S5 had similarities, both containing sabinene [12.1% (S4), 12.1% (S5)], 1,8-cineole [13.2% (S4), 11.8% (S5)], β-caryophyllene [12.7% (S4), 11.4% (S5)] and bicyclogermacrene [11% (S4), 12.1% (S5)] as major components.

Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects, and casticin contents of Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) fruit extract from five geographical regions of Turkey.Methods: Casticin determination in VAC fruit extracts was performed using HPLC-DAD method. The method was validated for linearity, sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and precision. The methanol extracts of the VAC fruits were analyzed for antioxidant effects using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging capacity, metal-chelation capacity assay, radical cation scavenging capacity (ABTS•+), and total phenolic content. The cytotoxic potential of the extracts against NRK-52E and HeLa cells were determined using MTT and LDH assays.Results: The casticin content of the extracts ranged from 0.048 and 0.152 %. Total phenol content was in the range of 36.67 ± 0.7 to 74.20 ± 1.02 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 mg of extracts. High-tomoderate antioxidant properties were observed in the extracts. Cytotoxicity data demonstrated that all extracts showed high cytotoxic effects on HeLa cell line when compared to the NRK-52E cell line (p < 0.05).Conclusion: These results suggest that VAC fruits (Monk’s pepper fruits) from Aegean sea coasts have a potential for use in the preparation of phytopharmaceutical products. Keywords: Vitex agnus-castus, Casticin, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic activity, Anticancer