Species Artemisia absinthium

Absinthin, the active principle of wormwood, Artemisia absinthium L. (Compositae), is a dimeric guaianolide containing two lactone rings and two hydroxy groups per molecule.162 Thelephoric acid (76b), isolated from fungi of several Thelephora species, has been synthesized by oxidative condensation of two molecules of sodium 3,4-dimethoxy-phenoxide with one of chloranil in the presence of hydrobromic acid.162a... 

There are about 60 different species of Artemisia, of which the principal are Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia annua, Artemisia cina, and Artemisia vulgaris. 

Many species of the genus Artemisia (wormwood, Asteraceae) are used as spices, for alcoholic drinks and also in the folk and traditional medicine. The chemical compounds and the antioxidative activity of the EOs isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium (vermouth), Artemisia santonicum (sea wormwood), and Artemisia spicigera (sluggish wormwood) were investigated (Kordali et al., 2005). The analysis of the EO of Artemisia santonicum and Artemisia spicigera showed two main components, namely 1,8-cineole and camphor. In addition, it is noticed that the EO of these two species contain no thujone derivates in contrast to Artemisia absinthium. Earlier studies have also shown that 1,8-cineole and camphor are main components of the EO of some Artemisia species. The antioxidative activity of the EO of Artemisia santonicum and... 

Wormwood oil Artemisia absinthium L.), sage oil Salvia officinalis L.) and milfoil oil Achillea millefolium L.) contain the diastereoisomeric thujones (113) as their main components (792). The biogenesis of these ketones was investigated in certain Thuja, Tanacetum and Juni-perus species (25). (-)-Isothujone cis-113) possesses an antinociceptive activity which is comparable with that of ( —)-A -tetrahydrocannabinol and codeine 498). The acute toxicity of California bay oil Umbellularia californica Nutt.) is due primarily to umbellulone (114) (39%), a substance, which is not present in Mediterranean or West Indian oils 67, 369). A similar neuropharmacological effect is reported for ( —)-thujone trans-113) 208). 

For malaria Artemisia annua or absinthium, Brucea javanica (fruit, root, or leaf), Uvaria spp. (any species, rootbark, stembark, or leaf), garlic vine Mansoa standleyi), or the bark of Cinchona spp. from which quinine was made can be used. Though malaria is resistant to quinine, it does not seem to have developed resistance to the more chemically complex Cinchona plant itself... 

Bagci, E., M. Kursat, and S. Civelek. 2010. Essential oil composition of the aerial parts of two Artemisia species (A. vulgaris and A. absinthium) from East Anatolian region. 13 ... 

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