Determination of the biological activity, ethnobotanical uses, and phytochemical properties of Achillea kirschneri Yild. & Kiliç plant

Objective: The aim of this thesis is to obtain different extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol) from the endemic and previously unexplored plant Achillea kirschneri Yıld. & Kılıç and to determine their antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antiurease, and anticancer activities. Within this scope, chitosan nanoparticles were prepared from the extract showing high biological activity, and their anti-inflammatory effects were examined. The phenolic compounds of the extract were identified, and molecular docking as well as pharmacological gene network analyses were conducted on these compounds. Furthermore, the essential oil composition and ethnobotanical properties of the plant was determined. Material and Method: The antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined using the DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays, while anticholinesterase, antiurease, and anticancer activities were evaluated by the Ellman, Indophenol, and MTT methods, respectively. Phenolic contents of the extracts were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and chitosan nanoparticles were prepared from the biologically active methanol extract in accordance with green chemistry principles. The anti-inflammatory effects of the nanoparticles and the extract were examined using the WST-1 assay. The phytochemical profile of the bioactive extract was characterized by HPLC-DAD, and the identified compounds were further analyzed through molecular docking and pharmacological gene network analyses. The essential oil composition of the plant was determined by GC-MS.n Ethnobotanical properties of the plant were determined through interviews with the local people in the locality. Results: The methanol extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase, and urease inhibition activities and contained the highest amount of phenolic compounds. Anticancer assays revealed no cytotoxicity at 50 µg/mL, whereas the chloroform extract showed significant cytotoxic effects at 100 µg/mL against HeLa (74.63%), HCT116 (72.96%), and MCF-7 (69.45%) cell lines. Nanoparticles prepared from the methanol extract demonstrated marked anti-inflammatory activity. HPLC-DAD analysis identified chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, rosmarinic acid, and 8-OH salvigenin, while GC-MS analysis revealed 1,8-cineole, piperitone, camphor, and phenol as the major volatile compounds. The most commonly identified ethnobotanical uses of the plant were for treating digestive issues, wound healing, and alleviating symptoms of the common cold. Conclusion: This study reveals that Achillea kirschneri possesses a rich phytochemical profile and notable ethnobotanical significance, exhibits promising biological activities, and holds pharmaceutical potential.