Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L. s.l.) is traditionally used in the treatment of 
inflammatory and spasmodic gastro-intestinal disorders, hepato-biliary 
complaints and inflammation. Now we could show that the flavonoids mediated the 
antispasmodic properties of yarrow, whereas the dicaffeoylquinic acids caused 
the choleretic effects. Moreover, we observed an in vitro-inhibition of human 
neutrophil elastase, a protease involved in the inflammatory process, by 
extracts and fractions from yarrow, which suggests additional mechanisms of 
antiphlogistic action. The presented results confirm the traditional use of 
yarrow.