Wormwood Extracts Research Articles

Effects of Different Plant Products against Pig Mange Mites

The objective of this study was to determine the antiparasitic efficiency of herbal-based products. Four medicinal plant species extracts in 10% ethanol solutions (hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden, mugwort Artemisia vulgaris L., tansy Tanacetum vulgare L., wormwood Artemisia absinthium L.), and seven essential medicinal ethereal oils used in 1% emulsions (garlic Allium sativum L., black pepper Piper nigrum L., juniper Juniperus communis L., citronella grass Cymbopogon nardus Rendle, pennyroyal Mentha pulegium L., eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus Labill., tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia Gheel) were tested a on pig farm in Estonia to control swine sarcoptic mange mites (Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis (L. 1758) Latreille, 1802). Trial groups (6 pigs each) were treated over the whole body twice, with one week interval in between; one group was left as untreated control. All the preparations used inhibited the development of and were more or less lethal to mange mites. Tea tree and citronella volatile oil preparations proved to be the most effective (viability of mites < 5% in 4 weeks). The most active extract of tested ethanol solutions was obtained from hogweed seeds: after two treatments of pigs, 57-93% of parasites died in 2-4 weeks. The extracts of local plants tansy and wormwood diminished the number of mites up to 44% within the first week after treatments. The results indicate that plant extracts may be further tested in practice as alternatives to drugs of synthetic origin.

Effects of Artemisia afra leaf extracts on seed germination of selected crop and weed species

Herbicide resistance in weeds is a phenomenon threatening sustainable cereal production in the winter rainfall region of South Africa. Every possible weed control measure that may be used to complement chemical weed control measures should be investigated. The effect of aqueous leaf extracts of the aromatic shrub African wormwood (Artemisia afra) on germination of selected crop and weed species were investigated. The selected plant species included wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), herbicide resistant and non-resistant ryegrass (Lolium spp.), canola (Brassica napus) and lucerne (Medicago sativa). Various dilutions were investigated and the original extract was the most effective in inhibiting seed germination as compared to the inconclusive results from further dilutions. The original extract that completely inhibited seed germination in canola, had no significant negative effect on seed germination of wheat and lucerne. The reduction in seed germination of both the resistant and non-resistant ryegrass was highly significant, although there was no significant reduction in rate of germination. The different seed germination responses of the test species to an aqueous leaf extract of African wormwood raises the possibility of developing a bioherbicide from the extract.

Free‐radical scavenging activity of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L) extracts

AbstractIn an effort to discover new antioxidant natural compounds, wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L) an aromatic‐bitter herb, was screened. The sequential extraction was realized with five solvents of different polarities (70% methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n‐butanol). The antioxidative activity was tested by measuring their ability to scavenge stable 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and reactive hydroxyl radical during the Fenton reaction trapped by 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline‐N‐oxide (DMPO), using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Results demonstrated that the antiradical and antioxidative activity depend on the type and concentration of applied extracts and increased in the order ethyl acetate > methanol > n‐butanol > chloroform > petroleum ether > remaining water extracts. The investigation showed that the antiradical activity increased with increasing concentration of all extracts. The high contents of total phenolic compounds (25.6 mg g−1) and total flavonoids (13.06 mg g−1) indicated that these compounds contribute to the antiradical and antioxidative activity. In a model system, the formation of o‐semiquinone radicals from quercetin and chlorogenic acid was obtained to prove the mechanism (hydrogen donating and/or one‐electron reduction) of free‐radical scavenging activity. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

Thirteen-week repeated dose toxicity study of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) extract in rats.

Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium, is a very bitter plant, and its extract has been used as food additives such as seasonings for food and drinks. A 13-week repeated dose toxicity study of wormwood extract was performed in both sexes of Wistar Hannover (GALAS) rats. Rats were divided into 4 groups consisting of 10 males and 10 females each, and were given water containing 0, 0.125, 0.5, or 2% wormwood extract. All rats had survived at the end of the study, and no changes indicating obvious toxicities that are attributable to the treatment of wormwood extract were observed in the body weights, hematological and serum biochemical examinations, organ weights, and histopathological examinations. Based on the results of the present study, the NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect-level) of wormwood extract of Wistar Hannover rats was estimated to be 2% (equivalent to 1.27 g/kg/day in males and 2.06 g/kg/day in females) or more.

Rapid microplate assay for substrates and inhibitors of proteinase mixtures.

Rapid microplate assay for substrates and inhibitors of proteinase mixtures.

EUROPEAN HERBS WITH CHOLINERGIC ACTIVITIES: POTENTIAL IN DEMENTIA THERAPY

We investigated plants reputed in herbal encyclopedias to enhance memory or alleviate mental disorder for cholinergic activities since this transmitter system has been implicated in memory and dementia. Crude extracts were applied to human brain homogenates to determine whether any inhibit acetylcholinesterase. Of three plants with reputed memory enhancing properties (rosemary, sage and balm), extracts of sage (Salvia officinalis) inhibited the brain enzyme in a concentration dependant manner. 50% enzyme inhibition was obtained at a concentration of 0.07 μg essential oil per ml and 1.5 mg fresh herb per ml. None of the known and commercially available chemical constituents of sage oil so far tested (borneol, caffeic acid, camphor, cineol or thujone) inhibited the enzyme, indicating that the active plant constituent(s) may be an as yet unidentified compound(s). In parallel studies, plants with insecticide or vermifuge (antihelminthic) properties, which frequently depend on cholinergic activities, were examined for cholinergic receptor interactions. Crude alcoholic extracts of wormwood, balm and angelica displaced nicotine binding to the nicotinic receptor in a concentration dependant manner, with IC50 values ranging from 3–15 mg/ml. Components of these plants may be relevant in relation to dementia therapy since there is a loss of nicotinic receptors in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and stimulation of the nicotinic receptor leads to increased receptor numbers.