Artemisia spp.: An Update on Its Chemical Composition, Pharmacological and Toxicological Profiles

Abstract

Artemisia plants are traditional and ethnopharmacologically used to treat several diseases and in addition in food, spices, and beverages. The genus is widely distributed in all continents except the Antarctica, and traditional medicine has been used as antimalarial, antioxidant, anticancer, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral agents. This review is aimed at systematizing scientific data on the geographical distribution, chemical composition, and pharmacological and toxicological profiles of the Artemisia genus. Data from the literature on Artemisia plants were taken using electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Selected papers for this updated study included data about phytochemicals, preclinical pharmacological experimental studies with molecular mechanisms included, clinical studies, and toxicological and safety data. In addition, ancient texts and books were consulted. The essential oils and phytochemicals of the Artemisia genus have reported important biological activities, among them the artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone, with antimalarial activity. Artemisia absinthium L. is one of the most famous Artemisia spp. due to its use in the production of the absinthe drink which is restricted in most countries because of neurotoxicity. The analyzed studies confirmed that Artemisia plants have many traditional and pharmacological applications. However, scientific data are limited to clinical and toxicological research. Therefore, further research is needed on these aspects to understand the full therapeutic potential and molecular pharmacological mechanisms of this medicinal species.

Future antimalarials fromArtemisia? A rationale for natural product mining against drug-refractoryPlasmodiumstages

“…Plants most phytochemically similar to A. annua and A. afra are, as could be expected, other species within the very large Artemisia genus (>300 spp.). 151,154,166,167 Strikingly, signicant amounts of ART and dihydro-ART were reported in various Artemisia spp., including plants of immense geographic distribution such as mugwort (A. vulgaris) or frequent human consumption such as absinth (A. absinthium) and tarragon (A. dracunculus). 96,168 The exact origin of these endoperoxides in Artemisia spp.…”

Hepatoprotective and cardioprotective effect of Artemisia nilagirica leaf extract on E. coli challenged broiler chicken

“…Their antibacterial activity is attributed to the presence of the functional hydroxyl (OH • ) group and the aromatic ring [ 49 ]. The hepatoprotective activity of A. nilagirica is also contributed by the polyphenols which are responsible for the antioxidative effects [ 50 , 51 ]. It is considered that the anti-oxidative activity of these bioactive compounds is due to their high redox properties and chemical structure, which can scavenge free radicals, chelate transitional metals and quench singlet and triplet oxygen by delocalization or decomposing peroxides [ 52 , 53 ].…”

Is aromatic plants environmental health engineering (APEHE) a leverage point of the earth system?

“…et Van. 0.6 m high 10 α-Thujone; bornanone; terpinen-4-ol; cis -2-menthenol; borneol; cis -sabino; α-terpineol; β-caryophyllene; caryophyllene oxide; neointermedeol [ 88 ] Artemisia annua L. 0.6 m high 10 Artemisia ketone; α-caryophyllene; germacrene D [ 88 ] Rosmarinus officinalis L. 2 gallons 2 1,8-cineole; α-pinene; camphor; bornyl acetate; borneol; camphene; α-terpineol; limonene; β-pinene; β-caryophyllene; myrcene [ 89 ] Lavandula angustifolia subsp. angustifolia 0.3 m high 2 Linalool; linalyl acetate; (E)-β-caryophyllene [ 90 ] Origanum majorana L. 0.6 m long 1 terpinen-4-ol; cis -sabinene hydrate; γ-terpinene; α-terpinene; α-terpineol; p -cymene; linalool [ 91 ] Crossostephium chinense Makino 0.15 m high 30 santolina triene; 1.8-cineole [ 92 ] Chrysanthemum indicum Linnaeus 0.3 m high 2 1,8-cineole; o -cymene; camphor; pinocarvone; chrysanthenyl acetate; bornyl acetate; trans -caryophyllene; terpinen-4-ol; umbellulone; trans -pinocarveol; cis -verbenol; borneol; α-terpineol; caryophyllene oxide; thymol [ 93 ] Santolina chamaecyparissus L. 2 gallons 8 Tetrapentacontane; eicosyl acetate; 2-methylhexacosane; n -pentadecanol [ 94 ] Eucalyptus cinerea F. Muell.ex Benth.…”