Antioxidant Activity and Ethno pharmacological Survey of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. in the Treatment of Dysmenorrhoea in Traditional Medicine of Golestan Province, Iran

Achillea biebersteinii Afan. has been used as antispasmodic and sedative agent to treat dysmenorrhoea in traditional medicine of Golestan province. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activity. It is also an ethno pharmacological survey of Achillea biebersteinii Afan., as antispasmodic and sedative agent in treating dysmenorrhoea in traditional medicine of Golestan province. Ethno pharmacological data was obtained as field observation among well-known indigenous rural healers (68-82 ages) in southwest of Golestan province in August 2011. The data gathered evaluated the potential of Achillea biebersteinii in preventing or treating dysmenorrhoea. Flowers of the plant were collected in July 2012 at an altitude of 2600 meters, ethanol extract was obtained by Maceration and antioxidant capacity was obtained by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH). Results showed that in traditional medicine of Golestan province, the flowers of Achillea biebersteinii has been used in combination with Peganum harmala, Mentha aquatica, Cuminum cyminum, Foeniculum vulgare and Nigella sativa as antispasmodic, anti-inflammation and sedative agent to treat stomach ache, dysmenorrhoea, facial flushing, cramps and menopause. Also the ethanol extract of the plant is a very good free radical scavenging with the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 1.27±0.1 μg/ml in dry weight). These finding not only confirm the use of the plant in the traditional medicine of Golestan province, but also can serve as a basis for phytochemical and pharmaceutical researches to identify and produce effective herbal drugs in prevention or treatment of common dysmenorrhoea.