Trypanocidal, trichomonacidal and cytotoxic components of cultivated Artemisia absinthium Linnaeus (Asteraceae) essential oil

Abstract

Artemisia absinthium is an aromatic and medicinal plant of ethnopharmacological interest and it has been widely studied. The use ofA. absinthium based on the collection of wild populations can result in variable compositions of the extracts and essential oils (EOs). The aim of this paper is the identification of the active components of the vapour pressure (VP) EO from a selected and cultivated A. absinthiumSpanish population (T2-11) against two parasitic protozoa with different metabolic pathways: Trypanosoma cruzi andTrichomonas vaginalis. VP showed activity on both parasites at the highest concentrations. The chromatographic fractionation of the VP T2-11 resulted in nine fractions (VLC1-9). The chemical composition of the fractions and the antiparasitic effects of fractions and their main compounds suggest that the activity of the VP is related with the presence oftrans-caryophyllene and dihydrochamazulene (main components of fractions VLC1 and VLC2 respectively). Additionally, the cytotoxicity of VP and fractions has been tested on several tumour and no tumour human cell lines. Fractions VLC1 and VLC2 were not cytotoxic against the nontumoural cell line HS5, suggesting selective antiparasitic activity for these two fractions. The VP and fractions inhibited the growth of human tumour cell lines in a dose-dependent manner.

Absolute configuration of the ocimene monoterpenoids from Artemisia absinthium

“…Thujone free populations of this species have been domesticated for cultivation, thus providing a chemically stable new variety . The hydro‐distilled semi‐industrial vapor pressure essential oils, characterized by the presence of (−)‐( Z )‐epoxyocimene, (−)‐ cis ‐chrysanthenol, linalool, and chrysanthenyl acetate, show antifungal, leishmanicidal, and trypanocidal activities, as well as toxic effects against Trichinella spiralis . The extraction procedure also generates a water residue or hydrolate as a by‐product, which shows nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne javanica .…”

The Artemisia Genus: A Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemical Constituents, Pharmacological Properties and Germplasm Conservation

“…The Artemisia species are widely distributed in temperate regions of North America (Mexico, USA, Canada), Mediterranean region, Asia, Africa and Australia as shown in (Table 1, [55,56] as shown in Table 1, included as Supplementary data. These species mainly comprise of terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, caffeoylquinic acids, sterols and acetylenes.…”

Can the Cure for Chagas’ Disease be Found in Nature?

“…Nowadays, it is estimated that 8 million people in Latin America are infected with this pathogen, and 100,000 people are at risk of contracting it each year. Chagas' is also spreading to the USA, Canada, and many parts of Europe and the Western Pacific mainly due migratory flows [10]. There is an estimative that more than 400,000 individuals are currently infected in nonendemic areas like in USA and European countries [11].…”

“…Usually the collection of wild herbal populations can result in extracts and essential oils with variable compositions [10]. So, after A. absinthium essential oils chromatographic fractionation, the antiparasitic effects of some fractions revealed that compounds dihydrochamazulene (46) and trans-caryophyllene (50) (main compounds on their respective fractions) could be related to the observed activity.…”