The Effect of Drought on Phytochemical active Compounds Content in Chamomile and Yarrow

Abstract

The effect of drought stress conditions on the phytochemical compounds content of German chamomile (Matricaia chamomilla L.), common yarrow and summer berries yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) was investigated. Treatments contained drought stress 70% field capacity (FC) pots and control (well-watered 100% FC) pots under controlled glasshouse conditions. Freeze dried and ground leaves were extracted at room temperature using Shaking extraction with methanol (99.9%) as an efficient solvent in order to determine the phytochemical compositions of phenols and flavonoids from dried chamomile and yarrow leaves. Samples were then analysed using High performance liquid chromatography with ultra-violet detection (HPLC-UV). Five times sample collections were applied over leaf production period for each plant species.

Results confirmed that these two plant species can produce a good mass production of phytochemical compounds content even when there is insufficient water in the soil. More phytochemically active compounds were identified in chamomile compared with yarrow. The main phenol and flavonoid compounds found were chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, apig-7-glucoside, umbelliferon and luteolin. Total yields of chlorogenic acid, apig-7-glucoside and umbelliferon dominated over other compounds in chamomile, common yarrow and summer berries yarrow under both well-watered and drought stress conditions.