Artemisia annua, a Traditional Plant Brought to Light

Abstract

Traditional remedies have been used for thousand years for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, particularly in developing countries. Of growing interest, the plant Artemisia annua, known for its malarial properties, has been studied for its numerous biological activities including metabolic, anti-tumor, anti-microbial and immunomodulatory properties. Artemisia annua is very rich in secondary metabolites such as monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and phenolic compounds, of which the biological properties have been extensively studied. The purpose of this review is to gather and describe the data concerning the main chemical components produced by Artemisia annua and to describe the state of the art about the biological activities reported for this plant and its compounds beyond malaria.

Medicinal Plants and Isolated Molecules Demonstrating Immunomodulation Activity as Potential Alternative Therapies for Viral Diseases Including COVID-19

“…Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene trioxane lactone primarily used as an antimalarial drug acting by disrupting the function of parasite mitochondria and by modulating host immunity. Artemisinin and its derivatives increase immune reconstitution and promote T cell activity; and are helpful in refurbishing immune function ( 88 ). In addition to antimalarial activity, it also showed beneficial effects in cancer treatment and inhibition of angiogenesis.…”

Research Advances on Health Effects of Edible Artemisia Species and Some Sesquiterpene Lactones Constituents

“…Encouraged by long traditional use of many Artemisia species for treatment of various ailments, research into their pharmacological effects has been carried out and seem to support the traditional applications [ 5 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In this regard, Artemisia species and their biologically active compounds have already been introduced as antimalarial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antispasmodic, anthelmintic, antinociceptive, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial agents, among others [ 16 , 44 ]. It is noteworthy that although Artemisia species have been intensively studied in vitro as cytotoxic agents, there are no reports on their clinical evaluation for cancer therapy in humans [ 4 ].…”

“…The use of Artemisia species in traditional medicine is well-documented [ 5 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] and demonstrates the great ethnopharmacological value of this genus. Artemisia annua L. and Artemisia absinthium L. are the best known for their uses in traditional medicine around of the World.…”

“…Artemisia annua L. and Artemisia absinthium L. are the best known for their uses in traditional medicine around of the World. For example, A. annua is cited in several ancient books as being suitable for the treatment of consumptive fever, jaundice, summer heat wounds, tuberculosis, lice, scabies, dysentery, and hemorrhoids in addition to pain relievers, while in Iran is used as antispasmodic, carminative, or sedative remedy for children [ 9 , 16 , 18 ]. In turn, A. absinthium has been traditionally used to treat mainly gastrointestinal diseases and as anthelmintic although for example in Italy it is also used as an antiparasitic, antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory, while in France it is also used to stimulate appetite, as an antipyretic, and emmenagogue [ 17 , 19 ].…”

Artemether-Loaded Zein Nanoparticles: An Innovative Intravenous Dosage Form for the Management of Severe Malaria

“…The management of malaria has been revolutionarily improved by the introduction of the artemisinin derivatives in the 1990s, a group of semisynthetic compounds produced from artemisinin ( Figure 1 a), a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide originally isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua [ 1 , 6 ]. As artemisinin derivatives are rapidly effective, safe and well tolerated, artemisinin-based combination treatments are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as first-line therapies in all malaria endemic countries [ 1 , 7 ].…”