Phytochemical analysis and acute toxicity studies of Artemisia annua in Swiss albino mice

Abstract

Artemisia annua also known as sweet Annie or Wormwood belonging to the family Asteraceae and the genus Artemisia, widely distributed in Asia, Europe and North America. The main chemical constituent obtained from Artemisia annua is a hydrophobic sesquiterpene lactone called Artemisinin which is responsible for the anti malarial action. The per cent extractability of the extract of Artemisia annua was 4.89 per cent. The extract of whole plant of Artemisia annua was greenish brown in colour, solid and sticky in consistency, bitter in taste and pleasant in odour. Phytochemical analysis (qualitative) revealed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponin, tannins, steroids, glycosides and phenols in the twelve different solvent extracts of Artemisia annua. The hydro-ethanolic plant extract of Artemisia annua was administered orally upto 5000 mg/kg body weight in swiss mice was shown no lethality or toxic reactions at any of the doses of Artemisia annua extract. The absence of toxicity symptoms suggest that Artemisia annua was non toxic and was well tolerated at the doses employed in this study.