Artemisia Extracts Research Articles

THE STUDY OF THE BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF EXTRACTS OBTAINED FROM SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF EKP

In this study, the antioxidant properties of extracts, the total content of phenols and flavonoids were studied from some essential oil medicinal plants growing on the territory of East Kazakhstan region, in particular yarrow (Latin Achillea) and wormwood (Latin Artemisia). Three solvents, distilled water, acetone and ethanol were used in the research work. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by dpph, ABTS, β-carotene/linoleic acid and phenolic, flavonoid compounds. The results related to the applied methods and solvents (polar, apolar) were obtained. For example, the ABTS cationic radical removal method showed that the highest antioxidant activity in both plant types was demonstrated by the same acetone solvent (Achillea 344.11 and 0.06 mg/ml, Artemisia 198.26 and 0.07 mg/ml). DPPH showed the strongest effect of radical removal in distilled aqueous solvent (Achillea 245.82±1.59 mg/ml, Artemisia 300.53±1.18 mg/ml) in both species using the method of determining the activity of free radical removal. In addition, when studying total phenol, flavonoid compounds, the total amount of phenols in various solvent extracts obtained from Achillea ranged from 0.13 mg/ml from 59.71 to 0.13 mg/ml from 96.16 to 0.21 mg/ml, and the amount of flavonoids ranged from 0.11 mg/ml from 38.22 to 86.65 from 1.17 mg/ml. While the phenol content in Artemisia extracts ranged from 40.75 mg/ml to 113.56 mg/ml to 0.91 mg/ml, the flavanoid content ranged from 22.74 mg/ml to 74.94 mg/ml to 1.97 mg/ml.

Highly oxidized flavones in Artemisia species – structure revisions and improved UHPLC-MSn analysis

In course of our studies of the aerial parts of Artemisia abrotanum the major methoxyflavonol could be isolated. However, by NMR structural analysis it became obvious that the substitution pattern in ring B differs from reports for casticin (2). The position of methoxyl and hydroxyl groups are interchanged, i.e., the major flavone is actually chrysosplenetin (1). Three structures in A. abrotanum and A. frigida had to be revised. Use of pyridine-d5 instead of DMSO‑d6 made the resolution of the B-ring 1H and 13C NMR signals possible and enabled correct structural assignment by 2D NMR experiments.Results from NMR structure elucidation for A. abrotanum were confirmed by LC-PDA-ESI-MSn analysis when a PFP (pentafluorophenyl) stationary phase with an optimized gradient elution was applied for separation of 1 and 2 instead of a corresponding C-18 phase. Electrospray mass spectrometry (positive and negative mode) with subsequent fragmentation (ESI-MSn) revealed distinctive mass spectral features of both compounds, especially at MS4 level. Several Artemisia extracts including A. annua were analysed on the PFP phase for the presence of 1 and 2.

RETRACTED: Agrawal et al. Artemisia Extracts and Artemisinin-Based Antimalarials for COVID-19 Management: Could These Be Effective Antivirals for COVID-19 Treatment? Molecules 2022, 27, 3828.

The journal retracts the article "Artemisia Extracts and Artemisinin-Based Antimalarials for COVID-19 Management: Could These Be Effective Antivirals for COVID-19 Treatment [...].

Phenolic content and antioxidant activity in medicinal raw material of introduced Artemisia L. species in Lithuania


 
 
 
 In the last decade, special attention has been paid to Artemisia (L.) genus plants, the possibilities of using their medicinal raw material for therapeutic purposes. The aim of the research was to determine the variability of the phenolic compounds in the medicinal raw material of four introduced Artemisia L. species and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of extracts in vitro. The highest total amount of phenolic compounds (297.37±9.18 mg RE/g DW) and flavonoids (77.73±7.40 mg RE/g DW) evaluated via spectrophotometry was detected in Artemisia annua L. medicinal raw material samples. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of individual phenolics in the samples of Artemisia extracts was carried out by applying the HPLC method. In the studied extracts, the predominant phenolic compounds were chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. It was determined that the methanol extracts of A. annua medicinal raw material have the strongest antiradical and reducing properties.
 
 
 

Exploring the Artemisia Genus: An Insight into the Phytochemical and Multi-Biological Potential of A. campestris subsp. lednicensis (Spreng.) Greuter & Raab-Straube.

The Artemisia L. genus includes over five hundred species with great economic and medicinal properties. Our study aimed to provide a comprehensive metabolite and bioactivity profile of Artemisia campestris subsp. lednicensis (Spreng.) Greuter & Raab-Straube collected from north-eastern Romania. Liquid chromatography with tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) analysis of different polarity extracts obtained from the aerial parts led to the identification of twelve flavonoids, three phenolic acids, two sesquiterpene lactones, two fatty acids, one coumarin, and one lignan. The antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties were shown in the DPPH (0.71-213.68 mg TE/g) and ABTS (20.57-356.35 mg TE/g) radical scavenging, CUPRAC (38.56-311.21 mg TE/g), FRAP (121.68-202.34 mg TE/g), chelating (12.88-22.25 mg EDTAE/g), phosphomolybdenum (0.92-2.11 mmol TE/g), anti-acetylcholinesterase (0.15-3.64 mg GALAE/g), anti-butyrylcholinesterase (0-3.18 mg GALAE/g), anti-amylase (0.05-0.38 mmol ACAE/g), anti-glucosidase (0.43-2.21 mmol ACAE/g), and anti-tyrosinase (18.62-48.60 mg KAE/g) assays. At 100 μg/mL, Artemisia extracts downregulated the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human neutrophil model (29.05-53.08% of LPS+ control). Finally, the Artemisia samples showed moderate to weak activity (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) > 625 mg/L) against the seventeen tested microbial strains (bacteria, yeasts, and dermatophytes). Overall, our study shows that A. campestris subsp. lednicensis is a promising source of bioactives with putative use as food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic ingredients.

Neuroprotective and anti-epileptic potentials of genus Artemisia L.

The Genus Artemisia L. is one of the largest genera in the Asteraceae family growing wild over in Europe, North America, and Central Asia and has been widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Phytochemical and psychopharmacological studies indicated that the genus Artemisia extracts contain various antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antitumor activity. Recently, increasing experimental studies demonstrated that many Artemisia extracts offer a great antiepileptic potential, which was attributed to their bioactive components via various mechanisms of action. However, detailed literature on the antiepileptic properties of the genus Artemisia and its mechanism of action is segregated. In this review, we tried to gather the detailed neuroprotective and antiepileptic properties of the genus Artemisia and its possible underlying mechanisms. In this respect, 63 articles were identified in the PubMed and Google scholars databases, from which 18 studies were examined based on the pharmacological use of the genus Artemisia species in epilepsy. The genus Artemisia extracts have been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neurotransmitter-modulating, anti-apoptotic, anticonvulsant, and pro-cognitive properties by modulating oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial ROS production and an imbalance of antioxidant enzymes, by protecting mitochondrial membrane potential required for ATP production, by upregulating GABA-A receptor and nACh receptor activities, and by interfering with various anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, such as mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, ERK/CREB/Bcl-2 pathway and Nrf2 pathway. This review provides detailed information about some species of the genus Artemisia as potential antiepileptic agents. Hence, we recommend further investigations on the purification and identification of the most biological effective compounds of Artemisia and the mechanisms of their action to cure epilepsy and other neurological diseases.

Artemisia Species with High Biological Values as a Potential Source of Medicinal and Cosmetic Raw Materials.

Artemisia species play a vital role in traditional and contemporary medicine. Among them, Artemisia abrotanum, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia annua, Artemisia dracunculus, and Artemisia vulgaris are the most popular. The chemical composition and bioactivity of these species have been extensively studied. Studies on these species have confirmed their traditional applications and documented new pharmacological directions and their valuable and potential applications in cosmetology. Artemisia ssp. primarily contain sesquiterpenoid lactones, coumarins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Essential oils obtained from these species are of great biological importance. Extracts from Artemisia ssp. have been scientifically proven to exhibit, among others, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antidepressant, cytotoxic, and digestion-stimulating activities. In addition, their application in cosmetic products is currently the subject of several studies. Essential oils or extracts from different parts of Artemisia ssp. have been characterized by antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities. Products with Artemisia extracts, essential oils, or individual compounds can be used on skin, hair, and nails. Artemisia products are also used as ingredients in skincare cosmetics, such as creams, shampoos, essences, serums, masks, lotions, and tonics. This review focuses especially on elucidating the importance of the most popular/important species of the Artemisia genus in the cosmetic industry.

Traditional Use, Phytochemical Profiles and Pharmacological Properties of Artemisia Genus from Central Asia.

The flora of Kazakhstan is characterized by its wide variety of different types of medicinal plants, many of which can be used on an industrial scale. The Traditional Kazakh Medicine (TKM) was developed during centuries based on the six elements of ancient Kazakh theory, associating different fields such as pharmacology, anatomy, pathology, immunology and food nursing as well as disease prevention. The endemic Artemisia L. species are potential sources of unique and new natural products and new chemical structures, displaying diverse bioactivities and leading to the development of safe and effective phytomedicines against prevailing diseases in Kazakhstan and the Central Asia region. This review provides an overview of Artemisia species from Central Asia, particularly traditional uses in folk medicine and the recent numerous phytochemical and pharmacological studies. The review is done by the methods of literature searches in well-known scientific websites (Scifinder and Pubmed) and data collection in university libraries. Furthermore, our aim is to search for promising and potentially active Artemisia species candidates, encouraging us to analyze Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), α-glucosidase and bacterial neuraminidase (BNA) inhibition as well as the antioxidant potentials of Artemisia plant extracts, in which endemic species have not been explored for their secondary metabolites and biological activities so far. The main result of the study was that, for the first time, the species Artemisia scopiformis Ledeb. Artemisia albicerata Krasch., Artemisia transiliensis Poljakov, Artemisia schrenkiana Ledeb., Artemisia nitrosa Weber and Artemisia albida Willd. ex Ledeb. due to their special metabolites, showed a high potential for α-glucosidase, PTP1B and BNA inhibition, which is associated with diabetes, obesity and bacterial infections. In addition, we revealed that the methanol extracts of Artemisia were a potent source of polyphenolic compounds. The total polyphenolic contents of Artemisia extracts were correlated with antioxidant potential and varied according to plant origin, the solvent of extraction and the analytical method used. Consequently, oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be managed by the dietary intake of current Artemisia species. The antioxidant potentials of the species A. schrenkiana, A. scopaeformis, A. transiliensis and Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kitam. were also promising. In conclusion, the examination of details between different Artemisia species in our research has shown that plant materials are good as an antioxidant and eznyme inhibitory functional natural source.

Artemisia extracts differ from artemisinin effects on human hepatic CYP450s 2B6 and 3A4 in vitro

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe Chinese medicinal herb, Artemisia annua L., has been used for >2,000 yr as traditional tea infusions to treat a variety of infectious diseases including malaria, and its use is spreading globally (along with A. afra Jacq. ex Willd.) mainly through grassroots efforts. Aim of the studyArtemisinin is more bioavailable delivered from the plant, Artemisia annua L. than the pure drug, but little is known about how delivery via a hot water infusion (tea) alters induction of hepatic CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 that metabolize artemisinin. Materials and methodsHepaRG cells were treated with 10 μM artemisinin or rifampicin (positive control), and teas (10 g/L) of A. annua SAM, and A. afra SEN and MAL with 1.6, 0.05 and 0 mg/g DW artemisinin in the leaves, respectively; qPCR and Western blots were used to measure CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 responses. Enzymatic activity of these P450s was measured using human liver microsomes and P450-Glo assays. ResultsAll teas inhibited activity of CYP2B6 and CYP3A4. Artemisinin and the high artemisinin-containing tea infusion (SAM) induced CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 transcription, but artemisinin-deficient teas, MAL and SEN, did not. Artemisinin increased CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 protein levels, but none of the three teas did, indicating a post-transcription inhibition by all three teas. ConclusionsThis study showed that Artemisia teas inhibit activity and artemisinin autoinduction of CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 post transcription, a response likely the effect of other phytochemicals in these teas. Results are important for understanding Artemisia tea posology.

Artemisia Extracts and Artemisinin-Based Antimalarials for COVID-19 Management: Could These Be Effective Antivirals for COVID-19 Treatment?

As the world desperately searches for ways to treat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a growing number of people are turning to herbal remedies. The Artemisia species, such as A. annua and A. afra, in particular, exhibit positive effects against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and COVID-19 related symptoms. A. annua is a source of artemisinin, which is active against malaria, and also exhibits potential for other diseases. This has increased interest in artemisinin’s potential for drug repurposing. Artemisinin-based combination therapies, so-called ACTs, have already been recognized as first-line treatments against malaria. Artemisia extract, as well as ACTs, have demonstrated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2. Artemisinin and its derivatives have also shown anti-inflammatory effects, including inhibition of interleukin-6 (IL-6) that plays a key role in the development of severe COVID-19. There is now sufficient evidence in the literature to suggest the effectiveness of Artemisia, its constituents and/or artemisinin derivatives, to fight against the SARS-CoV-2 infection by inhibiting its invasion, and replication, as well as reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, and mitigating lung damage.

Unveiling the Phytochemical Profile and Biological Potential of Five Artemisia Species.

The Artemisia L. genus comprises over 500 species with important medicinal and economic attributes. Our study aimed at providing a comprehensive metabolite profiling and bioactivity assessment of five Artemisia species collected from northeastern Romania (A. absinthium L., A. annua L., A. austriaca Jacq., A. pontica L. and A. vulgaris L.). Liquid chromatography–tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) analysis of methanol and chloroform extracts obtained from the roots and aerial parts of the plants led to the identification of 15 phenolic acids (mostly hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives), 26 flavonoids (poly-hydroxylated/poly-methoxylated flavone derivatives, present only in the aerial parts), 14 sesquiterpene lactones, 3 coumarins, 1 lignan and 7 fatty acids. Clustered image map (CIM) analysis of the phytochemical profiles revealed that A. annua was similar to A. absinthium and that A. pontica was similar to A. austriaca, whereas A. vulgaris represented a cluster of its own. Correlated with their total phenolic contents, the methanol extracts from both parts of the plants showed the highest antioxidant effects, as assessed by the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, CUPRAC, FRAP and total antioxidant capacity methods. Artemisia extracts proved to be promising sources of enzyme inhibitory agents, with the methanol aerial part extracts being the most active samples against acetylcholinesterase and glucosidase. All Artemisia samples displayed good antibacterial effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra, with MIC values of 64–256 mg/L. In conclusion, the investigated Artemisia species proved to be rich sources of bioactives endowed with antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory and anti-mycobacterial properties.

Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant and Wound Healing Potential of Three Artemisia Species: In Vitro and In Ovo Evaluation

Skin injuries, and especially wounds of chronic nature, can cause a major negative impact on the quality of life. New efficient alternatives are needed for wound healing therapy and herbal products are being investigated due to a high content of natural compounds with promising healing activity. For this purpose, we investigated three Artemisia species, Artemisia absinthium L. (AAb), Artemisia dracunculus L. (ADr) and Artemisia annua L. (AAn). Ethanolic extracts, containing different polyphenolic compounds, elicited strong antioxidant activities in the DPPH assay, comparable to ascorbic acid. Human ketratinocyte proliferation was stimulated and wound closure was enhanced by all three extracts at concentrations of 100 µg/mL. The Artemisia extracts modulated angiogenesis by increasing vessel formation, especially following treatment with A. annua and A. dracunculus, extracts with a significantly higher content of chlorogenic acid. Good tolerability and anti-irritative effects were also registered in ovo, on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The three Artemisia species represent promising low-cost, polyphenol-rich, antioxidant, safe alternatives for wound care treatment.

Artemisia Extracts Differ from Artemisinin Effects on Human Hepatic CYP450s 2B6 and 3A4 In Vitro

Artemisia Extracts Differ from Artemisinin Effects on Human Hepatic CYP450s 2B6 and 3A4 In Vitro

Non-target effects of aqueous leaf extracts of mugwort (<em>Artemisia vulgaris</em>) and herbicides: Impact on nursery tea plants (<em>Camellia sinensis</em>)

The weed control potential of Artemisia vulgaris in tea lands has been reported. This study evaluated the non-target effects of the aqueous leaf extracts of A. vulgaris at 25, 50, 75 and 100 g/L (soilapplied, 40 ml/pot) on the growth of 7-months-old nursery tea plants (TRI 4006 and 4046) grown in black polythene bags with 1 kg topsoil. For comparison, commercial herbicides with different modes of action, i.e. Glyphosate, Diuron, MCPA, Pelargonic acid, Pine oil and Glufosinate ammonium, were soil-applied at recommended dosages, with distilled water as the control. Experiments were done in CRD with five replicates, with one plant/replicate. Leaf greenness (SPAD meter) at 20 days after treatment (DAT), visual observations of root growth, and shoot and root dry weights/plant were measured with destructive sampling at 30 DAT. Artemisia leaf extracts did not show significant negative impacts on the aboveground parameters of the tea plant compared to the control. The highest phytotoxicity on nursery tea plants was observed with MCPA (root cell damage; 100% plant mortality). The SPAD readings showed significant leaf chlorosis in TRI 4006 and TRI 4046 with Diuron and Glufosinate ammonium, compared to the control, Artemisia extracts, Pelargonic acid and Pine oil. Poor root growth with lesions was observed with 100 g/L Artemisia leaf extract but at a comparatively low degree to that of herbicides. As the non-target effects of A. vulgaris on tea plants were relatively lower, further studies are warranted to determine an effective dosage for weed control with minimum impact on tea plants and the environment.

Cytotoxicity of an Innovative Pressurised Cyclic Solid-Liquid (PCSL) Extract from Artemisia annua.

Therapeutic treatments with Artemisia annua have a long-established tradition in various diseases due to its antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-malaria and anti-cancer effects. However, in relation to the latter, virtually all reports focused on toxic effects of A. annua extracts were obtained mostly through conventional maceration methods. In the present study, an innovative extraction procedure from A. annua, based on pressurised cyclic solid–liquid (PCSL) extraction, resulted in the production of a new phytocomplex with enhanced anti-cancer properties. This extraction procedure generated a pressure gradient due to compressions and following decompressions, allowing to directly perform the extraction without any maceration. The toxic effects of A. annua PCSL extract were tested on different cells, including three cancer cell lines. The results of this study clearly indicate that the exposure of human, murine and canine cancer cells to serial dilutions of PCSL extract resulted in higher toxicity and stronger propensity to induce apoptosis than that detected by subjecting the same cells to Artemisia extracts obtained through canonical extraction by maceration. Collected data suggest that PCSL extract of A. annua could be a promising and economic new therapeutic tool to treat human and animal tumours.

In vitro efficacy of Artemisia extracts against SARS-CoV-2

BackgroundTraditional medicines based on herbal extracts have been proposed as affordable treatments for patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Teas and drinks containing extracts of Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra have been widely used in Africa in efforts to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and fight COVID-19.MethodsThe plant extracts and Covid-Organics drink produced in Madagascar were tested for plaque reduction using both feline coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Their cytotoxicities were also investigated.ResultsSeveral extracts as well as Covid-Organics inhibited SARS-CoV-2 and FCoV infection at concentrations that did not affect cell viability.ConclusionsSome plant extracts show inhibitory activity against FCoV and SARS-CoV-2. However, it remains unclear whether peak plasma concentrations in humans can reach levels needed to inhibit viral infection following consumption of teas or Covid-Organics. Clinical studies are required to evaluate the utility of these drinks for COVID-19 prevention or treatment of patients.

Antibacterial effect of Artemisia and ginger extracts in controlling Agrobacterium tumefaciens in roses

Rose is the world’s most traded cut flowers with 74 % being produced in Kenya. Pests like spider mites, caterpillar, aphids, thrips, nematodes and diseases such as crown gall, downy mildew, powdery mildew and botrytis highly compromise rose production. Crown gall disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens is the most problematic disease of roses in Kenya, causing a production loss of up to 60 % depending on the age and variety of rose. An experiment to determine the antibacterial effect of Artemisia and ginger extracts was carried out in vitro, where the inhibitory zones around filter discs soaked with extracts on Muller Hinton agar was established. The extracts were emulsified with dimethylsulfoxide (50 %) and minimum inhibitory concentrations of Artemisia (125 mg/ml), ginger (62.5 mg/ml) and mixture of Artemisia and ginger (31.25 mg/ml) were used to soak the filter discs whereas the commercial recommended rate of copper hydroxide of 6.25 mg/ml was used. Artemisia and copper hydroxide (commercial antibiotic) had highest inhibition zone of 12.80 mm compared to ginger 10.60 mm. A mixture of Artemisia and Ginger had a slightly lower inhibition zone (10.20 mm) though not significantly different from ginger (P> 0.001). An eight-month greenhouse experiment was also done to determine the efficacy of the extracts on inoculated rose plants. The results showed that crown gall incidence and gall weight were low but not significantly different from copper hydroxide and Artemisia. Crop vigor, which was indicated by stem length was highest for Artemisia treatment with an average of 73.54 cm followed by copper hydroxide (67.25 cm) while ginger and mixture of ginger and Artemisia had 53.44 cm and 64.70 cm respectively. From the results of this research, Artemisia and Ginger extracts are promising alternative to control crown gall and possibly other diseases in field crops. Artemisia performance compares well with copper hydroxide and therefore the best alternative to replace copper hydroxide.

Anti-Leishmanial Activity of Artemisia persica, A. spicigera, and A. fragrance against Leishmania major.

Background:Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) like zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), is a widespread infectious disease with high mortality and morbidity. Various medications are used for treating the disease, but several side effects and drug resistance have been reported. Herbal medicines are unlimited sources for discovering new medications to treat infectious diseases. We aimed to determine the leishmanicidal activity of three species of Iranian Artemisia herbal plant extracts in in-vitro.Methods:In-vitro anti-leishmanial activity of ethanolic extracts on both promastigotes and amastigotes was determined by using MTT method. IC50, CC50, EC50 and SI were calculated. The study was done in 2019-2020 in Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Results:All of the three Artemisia species significantly reduced the number of parasite promastigotes. Among them, A. persica had the highest leishmanicidal activity against parasite promastigotes. Cytotoxicity assay elucidated that the Artemisia had no toxicity to the host cells, and killed the L. major amastigotes very efficiently. By increasing the dose of extracts, the parasite number in both phases (promastigotes and amastigotes) was reduced significantly.Conclusion:These results indicated satisfactory anti-leishmanial activity of Artemisia extracts against ZCL in-vitro. Accordingly, Artemisia ethanolic extracts might be considered as a strong, effective and safe herbal compound for clearing the L. major with less toxicity to the host macrophages cells. Hence, it may be recognized as an excellent herbal therapy for treating the ZCL.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Artemisia extracts on animal models of nociception

Introduction. The study aims to assess the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts obtained from indigenous species of wormwood: Artemisia absinthium, A. annua, A. vulgaris and A. pontica. Materials and methods. For these experiments, we employed nociception models using thermal stimulus (hot plate and tail immersion tests, t = 52.5 0C; 30, 60 and 90 minutes testing), chemical stimulus (Zymosan-induced abdominal constriction response test, using distinct lots and testing at 60, 90 and 120 minutes after administration of samples) and pressure stimulus (Randall Selitto test) and an inflammation model for the evaluation of inflammatory edema by Plethysmometer test. Groups of 6 Swiss mice / lot were used, receiving by oral administration the plant extracts suspended in 0.1% CMC-Na. The doses were administered in geometric progression. Chemical analyses were performed by HPLC-MS in order to identify bioactive substances present in extracts: methoxylated flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, phytosterols and hydroxycinnamic acids. Results and discussion. All plant extracts showed antinociceptive action on the models with thermal stimulus, as demonstrated by the ED50 values obtained at different test times. In the models of nociception with chemical and mechanical stimulus, models based on inflammatory mediation, the studied fractions have partially proved their antinociceptive action. Regarding the degree of inhibition of inflammatory edema, the highest potency was exhibited by Artemisia pontica extract (86.5% inhibition for the dose of 100 mg/kg). Hispidulin and eupatorin, known anti-inflammatory compounds, were identified in all extracts, along with caffeic and chlorogenic acids, stigmasterol, campesterol and β-sitosterol. Conclusions. The obtained results support the use of these plant extracts in moderate intensity pain, triggered by both central and peripheral mechanisms. Keywords: hot-plate test, tail immersion test, abdominal constrictive response, Randall-Selitto test, inflammatory edema,

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

The genus Artemisia, often known collectively as “wormwood”, has aroused great interest in the scientific community, pharmaceutical and food industries, generating many studies on the most varied aspects of these plants. In this review, the most recent evidence on health effects of edible Artemisia species and some of its constituents are presented and discussed, based on studies published until 2020, available in the Scopus, Web of Sciences and PubMed databases, related to food applications, nutritional and sesquiterpene lactones composition, and their therapeutic effects supported by in vivo and clinical studies. The analysis of more than 300 selected articles highlights the beneficial effect on health and the high clinical relevance of several Artemisia species besides some sesquiterpene lactones constituents and their derivatives. From an integrated perspective, as it includes therapeutic and nutritional properties, without ignoring some adverse effects described in the literature, this review shows the great potential of Artemisia plants and some of their constituents as dietary supplements, functional foods and as the source of new, more efficient, and safe medicines. Despite all the benefits demonstrated, some gaps need to be filled, mainly related to the use of raw Artemisia extracts, such as its standardization and clinical trials on adverse effects and its health care efficacy.