Variation of parthenolide and phenolic compounds content in different parts of Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schulz Bip., Asteraceae during 18 months storage

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schulz Bip., Asteraceae), a medicinal plant with a long tradition in European folk medicine, has been used to treat headache, fever, rheumatism, asthma, stomach pains, and other conditions related to inflammation. Although feverfew is often used for migraine headaches, numerous literature data stated the inconclusiveness regarding its efficacy. Namely, there is the discrepancy between the stated and the found quantity of the carrier of the mentioned activity (parthenolide) in the herbal products containing feverfew or its extracts. Based on the EMA monographs , it is evident that the feverfew phytopreparation might be designed from the raw herbal material, adequately prepared. Therefore, in this work we investigated the variation of the parthenolide content in different parts of this plant during 18 months storage in order to enable the data regarding the possible use of the powered plants in preparations aimed for migraine prophylaxis. Besides, the total phenolic compound content was determined, as well. The results revealed that the content of parthenolide decreased during the investigated period. In contrast, parthenolide content in the commercially available extract did not change during the time of investigation. Different particle size of the tested drugs in our investigation seemed to influence only total flavonoid content. Total flavonoids and total phenolics content remained the same during 18 months of storage.