Artemisia annua L. as a plant with potential use in the treatment of acanthamoebiasis

Abstract

The treatment of acanthamoebiasis is a great problem. Most cerebral invasions end with death, and the treatment of ocular invasions is usually long-lasting and not very effective. Numerous plant extracts and substances isolated from plants, which are effective against trophozoites or cysts, have been studied in the treatment of acanthamoebiasis. However, no agents that are simultaneously effective against both developing forms of amoebae have been discovered yet. It seems that such a plant which fulfils both tasks is Artemisia annua L. Our studies showed that water, alcohol and chloroform extracts from the herb A. annua L. can be applied in general and local treatment or in combined therapy with antibiotics in the treatment of acanthamoebiasis. Extracts from this plant show not only in vitro but also in vivo effects. Studies carried out on experimental animals infected with amoebae show that the application of these extracts significantly prolongs the survival of the animals.

Phytochemical Screening and Acanthamoebic Activity of Shoots from in Vitro Cultures and in Vivo Plants of Eryngium alpinum L.—The Endangered and Protected Species

“…In the literature on the subject, more scientific information on the plant extracts with the amoebicidal or amoebistatic activity against pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba spp. can be found regarding the extracts from leaves of Origanum spp., Salvia spp., Melia azedarach, Ricinus communis, Pastinaca armenea, Inula oculuscristi; aerial parts of Croton spp., Pterocaulon polystachyum, flowers, roots and leaves of Rubus chamaemourus, Pueraria lobata, Solidago spp., flowers, roots, leaves and bark of Ipomoea sp., Kaempferia galanga, Cananga odorata, leaves and calluses of Passiflora spp., leaves and roots of Eryngium planum [9,11,[23][24][25][26][27].…”

Are Herbal Products an Alternative to Antibiotics?

“…This species of thyme is also effective against the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis [44]. Artemisia annua L. (sweet wormwood) may prolong survival of animals experimentally infected with Acanthamoeba sp., therefore can be used for general and local treatment of acanthamoebiasis, or in combined therapy with antibiotics [45]. Malaria has always been a challenge for health practitioners, even today, when attempts to develop a commercially available vaccine are already under way in clinical trials [46].…”

A Systematic Review of Anti-malarial Properties, Immunosuppressive Properties, Anti-inflammatory Properties, and Anti-cancer Properties of Artemisia Annua

“…The plant itself is glabrous, and can have a natural growth of up to one meter (13–15). Based on Chinese medicine, treating diseases with Artemisia annua has a long-established tradition: diseases including fever, acanthamoebiasis, cancer, schistosomiasis, HIV, hepatitis-B and Leishmaniasis have been known to be treated with Artemisia annua (16, 17). Recent research illustrated that this plant possesses a very high level of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC).…”