Infrared spectroscopy as a tool for chemotaxonomic investigations within the Achillea millefolium group

An FT-IR-based method for the rapid characterization and identification of Achillea species was developed. With the IR spectra of the CH2Cl2 extracts of A. aspleniifolia, A. collina, A. millefolium, A. millefolium ssp. sudetica, A. pannonica, A. pratensis, A. roseoalba, A. setacea, and A. styriaca, a spectrum library was created. This database allowed the identification of the respective taxa by comparison of IR spectra. Moreover, information concerning dominant structural elements of sesquiterpene constituents was obtained, providing hints about the composition of a plant sample of unknown origin.