Chemical Diversity and Biological Activities of the Artemisia L. Genus Beyond Antimalarial Effects.

Background: Malaria is one of the most momentous transmittable diseases globally. Medicinal herbs like Artemisia species might be possible sources of new, effective, and cheap antiplasmodial products, making up the leading molecules to investigate new antimalarial drugs. The Artemisia genus, which belongs to the Asteraceae family, is a widely distributed medicinal plant in Iran. Methods: In this study, the antimalarial activities of essential oil, different extracts, and vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) fractions of A. fragrans Willd. were examined by a cell-free β-hematin formation assay. The aerial parts of A. fragrans were extracted by a Soxhlet extractor, and essential oil was obtained by a Clevenger apparatus. Then, GC-MS analysis was used to identify volatile compounds of essential oil and the 100% VLC fraction of chloroform. Results: Among the extracts, chloroform extract illustrated considerable antimalarial activity compared to the control (P < 0.001), with the IC50 value of 1.22 ± 0.05 mg/mL. Among the fractions, 100% VLC fraction of chloroform extract illustrated potent antimalarial effects compared to the control (P < 0.001). The volatile oil demonstrated moderate antimalarial effects (P < 0.001) compared with the control. Besides, GC-MS determined that sesquiterpenes in the 100% ethyl acetate fraction of the chloroform extract and oxygenated monoterpenes in the essential oil might be responsible for the potent antimalarial activity of this plant. Conclusions: The 100% ethyl acetate fraction of chloroform extract along with the essential oil of A. fragrans indicated potent and moderate activity, possibly due to sesquiterpenes and oxygenated monoterpenes, respectively.

Towards a better understanding of Artemisia vulgaris: Botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological and biotechnological potential

Chapter 2 - The Artemisia L. Genus: A Review of Bioactive Sesquiterpene Lactones

Context: Medicinal plants are nature′s gift to human beings to make disease free healthy life, and play a vital role to preserve our health. They are believed to be much safer and proven elixir in the treatment of various ailments. The genus Artemisia (Astraceae) consists of about 500 species, occurring throughout the world. The present review comprises the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and therapeutic potential of various species of Artemisia.Objective: The aim of this this review is to bring together most of the available scientific research conducted on the genus Artemisia, which is currently scattered across various publications. Through this review the authors hope to attract the attention of natural product researchers throughout the world to focus on the unexplored potential of Artemisia species.Methods: This review has been compiled using references from major databases such as Chemical s, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants s, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, PubMed, King′s American Dispensatory, Henriette′s Herbal Homepage, Dr. Duke′s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases.Results: An exhaustive survey of literature revealed that the different species of Artemisia have a vast range of biological activities including antimalarial, cytotoxic, antihepatotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activity. Some very important drug leads have been discovered from this genus, notably artemisinin, the well known antimalarial drug isolated from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua. Terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, caffeoylquinic acids, sterols and acetylenes constitute major classes of phytoconstituents of the genus.Conclusion: Various species of Artemisia seems to hold great potential for in-depth investigation for various biological activities, especially their effects on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Biologically active secondary metabolites, essential oils, and volatile compounds derived from medicinal and aromatic plants play a crucial role in promoting human health. Within the large family Asteraceae, the genus Artemisia consists of approximately 500 species. Artemisia species have a rich history in traditional medicine worldwide, offering remedies for a wide range of ailments, such as malaria, jaundice, toothache, gastrointestinal problems, wounds, inflammatory diseases, diarrhoea, menstrual pains, skin disorders, headache, and intestinal parasites. The therapeutic potential of Artemisia species is derived from a multitude of phytoconstituents, including terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, coumarins, sesquiterpene lactones, lignans, and alkaloids that serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The remarkable antimalarial, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antispasmodic, antioxidative and insecticidal properties possessed by the species are attributed to these APIs. Interestingly, several commercially utilized pharmaceutical drugs, including arglabin, artemisinin, artemether, artesunate, santonin, and tarralin have also been derived from different Artemisia species. However, despite the vast medicinal potential, only a limited number of Artemisia species have been exploited commercially. Further, the available literature on traditional and pharmacological uses of Artemisia lacks comprehensive reviews. Therefore, there is an urgent need to bridge the existing knowledge gaps and provide a scientific foundation for future Artemisia research endeavours. It is in this context, the present review aims to provide a comprehensive account of the traditional uses, phytochemistry, documented biological properties and toxicity of all the species of Artemisia and offers useful insights for practitioners and researchers into underutilized species and their potential applications. This review aims to stimulate further exploration, experimentation and collaboration to fully realize the therapeutic potential of Artemisia in augmenting human health and well-being.

Introduction. One of the promising directions in the intensively developing pharmaceutical industry is the study of wild plants closely related to pharmacopoeial species in order to expand the raw material base of medicinal plants. In this aspect, the genus Artemisia L., which is one of the numerous species in the family Asteraceae, is of interest. There are about 800 species of Artemisia in the world flora. Plants of the genus Artemisia L. contain secondary metabolites of various chemical structures, of which phenolic compounds are one of the leading groups. In the Saratov region plants of this genus are poorly studied in terms of chemical composition. Objective: comparative study of chromatographic profile of extracts of above-ground parts of non-pharmacopoeial Artemisia species growing in Saratov region. Material and methods. The objects of the study were samples of herbs of A. austriaca Jacq., A. marschalliana Spreng., A. santonica L., А. dracunculus L. collected in 2021 in the Saratov region during the period of mass flowering. Thin-layer chromatography of the extracts was carried out in the solvent system: ethyl acetate – anhydrous methanoic acid – purified water (40:4:6). The adsorption zones were detected by UV light after sequential treatment with 1% solution of diphenylboronic acid aminoethyl ether alcoholic solution and 5% solution of macrogol 400 alcoholic solution. Results. Chromatographic profiles of extracts of four species of Artemisia growing in the Saratov region were obtained. The study revealed both similarities and differences in the values of retention factors, colouring, intensity of adsorption zones of the tested extracts. Conclusion. The experimental data obtained represent practical interest in establishing the authenticity of these wormwood species, as well as in standardisation of pharmaceutical phytosubstances based on them.

Essential oils of aromatic and medicinal plants generally have a diverse range of activities because they possess several active constituents that work through several modes of action. The genus Artemisia includes the largest genus of family Asteraceae has several medicinal uses in human and plant diseases aliments. Extensive investigations on essential oil composition, antimicrobial, insecticidal and antioxidant studies have been conducted for various species of this genus. In this review, we have compiled data of recent literature (2012–2017) on essential oil composition, antimicrobial, insecticidal and antioxidant activities of different species of the genus Artemisia. Regarding the antimicrobial and insecticidal properties we have only described here efficacy of essential oils against plant pathogens and insect pests. The literature revealed that 1, 8-cineole, beta-pinene, thujone, artemisia ketone, camphor, caryophyllene, camphene and germacrene D are the major components in most of the essential oils of this plant species. Oils from different species of genus Artemisia exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens and insecticidal activity against insect pests. However, only few species have been explored for antioxidant activity.

The genus Artemisia (“wormwood”) is widely represented in the flora of Kazakhstan both by the species diversity (at least 80 species) and biomass. Members of this genus, such as Artemisia annua ("annual wormwood") attract the attention of the global biomedical community because these plants produce the unusual sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin, which has a proven efficacy as an antimalarial drug and has also been tested for antiviral activity. Due to their potential antiviral properties, wormwood-derived phytocompounds are of interest as promising drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which caused the largest pandemic of the 21st century. This review presents the studied diversity of secondary metabolites synthesized by various Artemisia species, describes the actual practical significance of one species A. annua, as well as the possible use of substances from this species as antiviral agents. There is a need for further research into secondary metabolites of wormwood with antiviral properties due to the expectation of continued circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and in order to complement the arsenal of antiviral therapy.

Genus Artemisia is one of the large multispecies genera of the Asteraceae family in the Siberian flora. In the arid and subarid zones of the Holarctic, wormwoods are often the dominant plant community. On the territory of Buryatia there are 47 species of Artemisia, on the territory of Mongolia – 102, and on the Qinghai territory – 54. The genus Artemisia L., growing in Buryatia, Mongolia and Qinghai belongs to three subgenera, of which the subgenus Artemisia is the most widely widespread. The subgenus Seriphidium is more prevalent in Mongolia (16 species), rather than in Buryatia or Qinghai (2 species in each territory). The territories of Buryatia, Mongolia and Qinghai have 13 common species of Artemisia. Among the plants belonging to the genus Artemisia, 40 species grow in both Buryatia and Mongolia at the same time, 22 – in Mongolia and Qinghai, 14 – in Buryatia and Qinghai. The component composition of essential oils is formed as a result of the influence of abiotic and biotic factors of the environment on the plant during its growth. It ensures the best adaptation of the plant to the conditions of particular location. Many species of wormwoods have an important practical value, with a potential to be used in medicine, functional nutrition, food industry, and also as fodder, technical and decorative plants.

IntroductionMorocco is home to a remarkable diversity of flora, including several species from the Artemisia genus. This study aims to thoroughly examine the chemical composition of essential oils derived from Artemisia species and assess their antibacterial and antioxidant properties through in vitro experiments and in silico simulations.MethodsSamples of Artemisia herba-alba Asso. were collected from Boulemane and Ifrane in Morocco, while Artemisia huguetii Caball. was sampled from Tata, representing regions of the Central Middle Atlas and Western Anti-Atlas. Essential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated, and antioxidant properties were assessed using the DPPH assay. In silico predictions of antibacterial and antioxidant activities were performed using computational models.ResultsThe extraction yields varied depending on the geographical origin, ranging from 1.54% to 2.78%. GC-MS analysis revealed significant differences in the chemical composition of the oils from different Artemisia species and regions, with a notable prevalence of oxygenated monoterpenes. Specifically, the oil from Boulemane was rich in thujone, the oil from Ifrane was predominantly composed of camphor, and the oil from Tata contained both camphor and thujone. The oils exhibited stronger antifungal than antibacterial properties, with Enterobacter cloacae strains showing high sensitivity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of approximately 12.5 mg/mL. The Boulemane oil of A. herba-alba displayed the highest antioxidant activity, effectively inhibiting DPPH at a concentration of 13.501 μg/mL.DiscussionThe in silico simulations predicted that the primary compounds in these essential oils, such as davanone, eucalyptol, camphor, and thujone, would exhibit potent antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These compounds were found to have favorable ADMET characteristics, including good blood-brain barrier permeability, gastrointestinal absorption, and skin penetration. Molecular docking studies revealed strong interactions between these compounds and key target proteins, such as NADPH-dependent catalase and dihydrofolate reductase. The stability of the protein-ligand complexes was confirmed by molecular dynamics, with davanone showing a significant impact. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the biological potential of Artemisia essential oils, highlighting davanone as a promising molecule for medicinal or pharmaceutical applications.

As a source of aromatic plants, the genus Artemisia has long been considered to have the potential to develop plant pesticides. In this study, components of essential oils from A. dalai-lamae, A. tangutica, A. sieversiana, A. tanacetifolia and A. ordosica were identified by GC-MS. A total of 56 constituents were analysed, and each species consisted of 9 to 24 constituents. Principle component analysis (PCA) revealed that A. dalai-lamae, A. tangutica and A. tanacetifolia are characterised by monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed the most remarkable similarity between A. sieversiana and A. ordosica, but the similarity was still lower than 50%. Contact toxicity and repellency of essential oils were evaluated by bioassays; A. ordosica oil exhibited the most substantial contact toxicity (LD50 = 52.11 μg/cm2) against Liposcelis bostrychophila, while A. tangutica oil showed the most potent contact toxicity (LD50 = 17.42 μg/adult) against Tribolium castaneum. Except for A. dalai-lamae, the other four species showed the same level (p > 0.05) of repellent activity as the positive control against both pests at high concentrations. The results indicated that these five Artemisia species had high chemical diversity and great potential to be developed into more effective and environmentally friendly anti-insect agents.

Chloroplast genome sequences of Artemisia maritima and Artemisia absinthium: Comparative analyses, mutational hotspots in genus Artemisia and phylogeny in family Asteraceae

Malaria is a life threatening parasitic disease which is prevalent mainly in developing countries; it is the main cause of global mortality and morbidity. Development and search of novel and effective anti-malarial agents to overcome chloroquine resistance have become a very important issue. Most anti-malarial drugs target the erythrocytic stage of malaria infection, where hemozoin synthesis takes place and is considered a crucial process for the parasite survival. Throughout last decades, natural products have been a significant source of chemotherapeutics especially against malaria. Inula viscose, is a shrub that grows around the Mediterranean basin and considered as an important Palestinian traditional medicinal herb. In this research it was found that the Palestinian flora Inula viscose alcoholic extract has a significant and promising anti-malarial effect in both in vitro and in vivo systems. The crude alcoholic extract of Inula viscose has the capability to impede the formation of b with an efficiency of about 93% when compared to the standard chloroquine which gave 94% at comparable concentrations. In vivo studies showed that this crude extract inhibited the growth of Plasmodium parasites in the red blood cells at a rate of about 96.6%, with an EC50 value of 0.55 ng/mL. Several secondary plant metabolites may be responsible for this anti-malarial activity; the effect also may be most probably due to the presence of high concentrations of nerolidol which has often been found at high concentrationsin this plant. Nerolidol shows a stronger inhibition of hypoxanthine incorporation than quinine. Its anti-malarial effect is potentiated by other essential oils. Nerolidol is also found in several Artemisia species and in Cymbopogon citrates (lemongrass) and Virola surinamensis, all plants known for their anti-malarial properties.

The genus Artemisia L. (tribe Anthemidea), belonging to the family Asteraceae, has a rich diversity of essential oil-bearing species distributed throughout the Western Himalayan (WH) and Trans-Himalayan (TH) regions of India. The present study evaluated the essential oils of the eighty-one accessions representing 40 Artemisia spp. from India’s WH and TH regions for their essential oil yield, chemical composition, and variability among and within the species. The essential oil yield ranged between 0.02% and 1.65%. One hundred fifty-five major compounds identified by GC-MS technique accounted for 81–100% of the total oil composition in the studied accessions. 1,8-cineole, thujone, camphor, artemisia ketone, borneol, and caryophyllene were present in most of the studied Artemisia accessions. Results of PCA indicated that the first two components contributed 42.31% of total variation and showed a significant positive correlation with thujone, camphor, 1,8-cineole, caryophyllene oxide, caryophyllene, borneol, artemisia ketone, and p-cymene. Based on the chemical composition of essential oil, different accessions were grouped into two major clusters and subdivided into several subgroups. The study has identified many new chemotypes of Artemisia spp. with industrial potential that had not been studied before in this region. Based on the results, new agro-technologies may be developed using Artemisia spp. of commercial interest.

Background and Objective: Some species from genus Artemisia were used in ancient medicine since Pharaonic civilization, most species of this genus are grown in arid or desert zones in Egypt. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the chemical constituents, antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of the essential oils of three species of Artemisia ( Artemisia sieberi , Artemisia judaica and Artemisia monosperma ) grown in Egypt. Materials and Methods: Chemical constituent of the essential oils of these species were analysed by GC-MS, antibacterial activities were carried out using disc-diffusion test and antioxidant properties were investigated with Iron, Fe (III) to Fe (II) reduction and DPPH radical scavenging capacity. Results: The results of chemical analysis revealed similarity between the three species in 20 compounds, the major compounds identified in essential oils were verbenol, (7.5 % and 11.51%) in A. sieberi and A. monosperma , I²-caryophyllene oxide (1.25 % – 0.78%) and Methyl jasmonate (0.9 % and 1.21 %) in A. sieberi and A. judaica , respectively. While the major compound in A. judaica was Lilac alcohol C (9.6%) and camphor (4.5%). The antibacterial investigation exhibited significant and broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy of A. monosperma and A. judaica against different strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Whereas, A. sieberi showed higher antibacterial efficacy against the gram-positive bacteria but weak or no effect against the Gram-negative bacteria. The results of the antioxidant investigation showed that A. sieberi present the higher reduction capacity with an IC 50 of 0.17 ± 0.03g/L, followed by A. judaica with an IC 50 of 0.58 ± 0.04g/L and A. monosperma with an IC 50 of 6.35 ± 0.41g/L. However, the reducing capacity of ascorbic acid and quercetin were 0.091 ± 0.002g/L and 0.026 ± 0.002g/L respectively. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the essential oils of A. sieberi , A. judaica and A. monosperm a possesses significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity, which attributed to the plenty of varied chemical compounds in these medicinal plants.