CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM POPULATION FROM ALBANIA

The essential oil of Achillea Millefolium plants were analyzed from population of different areas in North-East and South-East of Albania. The Achillea Millefolium herbs were sampling in July, 2015. The air dried plant samples were subjected to European Pharmacopoeia apparatus (Clevenger type) for 6 hours to obtain Achillea Millefolium oil in 1 ml Toluene. The chemical compositions of the essential oils were analyzed using GC/FID technique. The oil of each Achillea Millefolium samples was injected in a Varian 450 GC. VF-1ms capillary column (30m x 0.33mm x 0.25 um) was used for separation of compounds. Alfa-Pinene (2.1-4.3%), Sabinene (1.1-4.4%), beta-Pinene (6.8 – 12.1%), 1,8-Cineole (9.6-16.2%), Camphor (2.1-6.4%), Borneol (9.2-13.0%), Bornyl acetate (7.3-12.6%), beta-Caryophyllene (3.2-6.3%) and Azulenes (4.1–6.7%) were identified as the main components of the essential oils of Achillea Millefolium samples from Albania populations. Other compounds were found to be lower than 1%. The chemical composition of the essential oil of Achillea Millefolium plants is associated with type, time of sampling and geographic position. Achillea Millefolium plants from Albania were shown to be the same composition with other similar studies from Mediterranean region.