LEAF AND FLOWER HEAD FLAVONOIDS OF ACHILLEA-MILLEFOLIUM L SUBSPECIES

More than 30 samples of the three subspecies of Achillea millefolium h ave been studied for their leaf and flower head flavonoid composition. The main constituents are apigenin and luteolin, mainly found as 7-O- glucosides and 7-malonylglucosides. This is the first report of flavon e glycoside malonylesters in Achillea genus. White flowering populatio ns, i.e. the ssp. millefolium and ceretanum, showed a similar distribu tion of flavonoid compounds, whereas the presence of rutin in the leav es of the alpestris ssp. seems to be characteristic. The flowering top s of this taxon were distinguished from the other two by their amount of schaftoside and isoschaftoside. The chemotaxonomic relevance of the se results is discussed.