Optimization of extraction of antioxidant components from Yarrow herb

Recently, research efforts have been directed toward medicinal plants and their extracts, as important sources of natural antioxidant. Lots of biologically active compounds are responsible for the antioxidant effects of yarrow - Achillea millefilium L. extracts. The aim of our study was to determine which of the process parameters of pressure enhanced solvent extraction of Millefolii herba is significant for its efficiency and weather there are interactions between the examined parameters. Compression time, decompression time and the number of cycles were identified as independent variables, while the content of total flavonoids, tannins and total polyphenols were selected as dependent variables. For obtaining the extract of M. herba, rich in antioxidative ingredients, compression time should be set on its higher level (2.0 min), decompression time on its lower level (1.30 min) and the number of cycles on its higher level (99). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31029 i br. III 45017