Artemisia spp.

Valant-Vetschera, K.M. and Wollenweber, E., Flavonoid aglycones from the leaf surfaces of Artemisia spp. (Compositae-Anthemideae), Z. Naturforsch., 50c, 353, 1995. 

Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) [flower], M. recutita, Achillea spp., Artemisia spp. (Asteraceae) [aerial], Didierea spp. (Didieraceae)... 

Artemisin. 3a,5,5a,9b-Tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-3,5a, 9.trimethylnaphlho[l, 2-bffu ran-2,8(3H,4H l-dione 6a,8ct-dihydroxy-3-oxoeudesma-l,4-dien-12-oie acid 12,6-lactone 8-hydroxysantonin. C jH S04 mol wt 262.29, C 68.68%, H 6.92%, O 24.40%. From the closed, unexpanded flower heads of several Artemisia spp, especially Artemisia maritima L., and A. clna Berg., Compositae ( wormseed ). Found in the mother liquors from the extraction of santonin. Isoln E. Merck, Merck s Jahresber. 1894, 3 Chem. Zentr. 1895, I, 436. Structure Sumi. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 80, 4869 (1958) Cocker, McMurry, Tetrahedron 8, l8l (1960). Stereochemistry Bolt et of., J. Chem. Soc 1963, 5235. Synthesis of (+) -artemisin Nakazaki, Naemura, Tetrahedron Letters 1966, 2615. 

A pattern similar to that in Figure 6 is believed to apply in higher plants" and microorganisms The more effective conversion of the C16 compound (65 Figure 9) than the C18 compounds (49 and 66) into dehydromatricaria ester (3) in Artemisia spp discredits a hypothesis that a direct Baeyer-Villiger type of oxidation of a Cig-precursor... 

Occurs as esters in oil of pelargonium. Acid isolated from Ajania, Rubus, Rhamnus, Paulounia, Artemisia spp., numerous other plant sources and human skin. Acts as bactericide and fungicide. Is used in snail repellents. Simple esters used as flavouring ingedients. Oily, irritant liq. with characteristic odour. Mp 15°, Fp 12.24°. Bp 255°, Bpi 98.9°. p a 4.95. Spar, steam-volatile. 

Present in tarragon (Artemisia dracuncu-lus) and other Artemisia spp. Shows antifungal activity. 

Artemisia spp. (family Compositae) Various species of this are distributed throughout the temperate and subtropical region. It is cultivated in the Mediterranean region, Eastern Europe, the USA and in Kashmir. The leaves are a culinary herb in vinegar and salad seasonings. The oil extracted from leaves is used for flavouring liquors. 

Constit. of Artemisia spp. Also from Matricaria chamomilla and Achillea lanulosa. Cryst. (C H /pet. ether). Mp 193-195 [af -h23.5° (c, 0.65 in CHCI3). O-De-Ac Austrisin, Desacetylmatricarin C15H18O4 M 262.305... 

Other studies incorporating dried leaves of Artemisia spp. in soil provided good weed control via inhibition of seed germination [23-25]. However, in the case of A. annua, the level of herbicidal activity was independent of the concentration of artemisinin in soil, suggesting that other factors may play important roles [23]. This may be due to the fact that Artemisia species produce a large number of phytotoxic terpenes that may act together to cause a herbicidal response [26]. 

Cineoles are monoterpenes present in the essential oils of many aromatic plants (e.g. Laurus nobilis L., Salvia spp., Eucalyptus spp., Xanthoxylum rhetsa D. C., and Artemisia spp). Many classes of volatile monoterpenes inhibit plant growth (e.g. [36]). Growth inhibition of grasses by volatile monoterpenes released by Salvia leucophylla is most effective during seedling development and establishment [6]. 

Cineole (Fig. 1) is a major constituent of these plant essential oils and is one of the most potent allelochemicals released by Artemisia spp. [37]. However, the potential allelopathic role of this monoterpene is not clearly established. Other factors such as competitiveness, reduced seed predation, and/or drought tolerance may be more important in the survival of the species [37]. 

Sefidkon, R, A. Jahh, and T. Mirhaji, Essential oil composition of three Artemisia spp. horn Iran. Flavour Fragr. J. 17 150-152, 2002. 

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