Ambrosia artemisiifolia as a Source of Biologically Active Substances

Abstract

A technology of obtaining biologically active substances from Ambrosia artemisiifolia has been analyzed and experimentally proved taking into account the vegetation stage. Use of the above-ground parts of the plant collected in the stage of budding as the starting raw material solves two important problems by (i) eliminating the source of the allergenic factor (pollen) and (ii) providing the maximum total yield of biologically active fractions, from which it is possible to isolate individual compounds. In the biologically active fractions isolated from the material collected in the budding stage, the main sesquiterpene lactones are cumanin and peruvin, while the other lactones are present in trace amounts. Pharmacological screening revealed active fractions, which are worthy of profound experimental investigation with respect to their influence on the systemic and regional hemodynamics.