Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is an important medicinal plant which is rich of pharmaceutically active sesquiterpene lactones. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L. Schulz Bip.) is a diploid (2n=2x=18) and perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae that has traditionally been used as a fever-reducer and treatment of migraine. The main effective sesquiterpene lactone in feverfew is parthenolide which recently raised researcher’s attention due to its medicinal value and pharmacological activities, especially as a migraine prophylaxis agent and also for treatment of cancer. Parthenolide concentrations in flowers, leaves derived from the vegative or generative phases of three feverfew genotypes (diploid, tetraploid and Zardband cv.) was measured using UPLC-MRM-MS to study its variation. Different amount of parthenolide was observed in feverfew genotypes, parthenolide was higher in flowers than the leaves derived from vegetative or generative phases. Taking together it can be conclude that genetical, developmental and environmental factors playing the key role for parthenolide changes in feverfew.
