INDEX Artemisia

Artemisinin 1, a naturally occurring sesquiterpene peroxy-lactone, has been isolated in up to 0.25% yield from the dry leaves of Artemisia annua L.1 Interest in artemisinin is based on its phytomedicinal properties. In 168 b.c. China, as described in a Treatment of 52 Sicknesses, the leaves of A. annua (Qinghao) were used for the treatment of chills and fever.2 It was not until 1972 that the active antimalarial agent qinghaosu was isolated in pure form. This allowed for the unequivocal elucidation of its structure through the use of x-ray crystallography. This complex tetracyclic peroxide is now referred to as artemisinin in various sources such as Chemical Abstracts or the Merck Index. 

THUJONES Merck Index ii 9326 12 9533] 4-methyi-i-(i-methylethyl)bicyclol3.i.o] hexan-3-onc 3-thujanone absinthol absynthol salvanol tanacetone salviol 3-sabinone c H,sO molecular weight 152.24 c 78.90% h 10.59% o 10.51% Gildemeister, The Volatile Oils, Pharmaceutical Review Publications, Milwaukee, 1900 Artemisia absinthium )... 

Definition Oil from steam distillation of leaves, stems, and flowers of Artemisia dracuncuius Properties Pale yel. to amber liq. spicy licorice and sweet basil odor sol. in fixed oils, min. oil insol. in propylene glycol, glycerin dens. 0.933 b.p. 204 C flash pt. 79.4 C ref. index 1.5120 Toxicoiogy LD50 (oral, rat) 1900 mg/kg, (skin, rabbit) > 5 ml/kg mod. toxic by ing. may be harmful by inh., skin absorp. may cause irritation to eyes, skin, mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract exposure can cause dermatitis TSCA listed Precaution Combustible liq. incompat. with strong oxidizing agents... 

Definition Volatile oil from leaves and tops of Artemisia absinthium, contg. thujyl alcohol and acetate, thujone, phellandrene, cadinene Properties Almost colorless, yel. amber, to dk. grn. or brn. oily liq. very strong odor sol. in ether, 2 vols 80% alcohol very si. sol. in water dens. 0.925-0.955 (15/15 C) flash pt. 132 F ref. index 1.460-1.4741 (20 C)... 

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