A review on pharmacological properties of Artemisia annua

Abstract

The genus Artemisia includes the largest genus of family Asteraceae. It has several medicinal uses in human and plant diseases ailments. Artemisia species grow in temperate climates of both hemispheres, usually in dry or semi-arid habitats. Due to presence of terpenoids and sesquiterpene lactones, most of the species possess strong aromas and bitter tastes, which discourage herbivory, and may have had a selective advantage. There are several species of Artemisia that have been investigated as antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, insecticidal, repellent and anticonvulsant agents. Artemisinin is isolated from the plant Artemisia annua, sweet wormwood, a herb employed in Chinese traditional medicine. Treatments containing an artemisinin derivative are now standard treatment worldwide for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The present review comprises information of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Artemisiasps providing preliminary information and gives a direction for the basic and clinical research on Artemisia annua.