Artemisia abrotanum L. (Southern Wormwood)—History, Current Knowledge on the Chemistry, Biological Activity, Traditional Use and Possible New Pharmaceutical and Cosmetological Applications

Artemisia abrotanum L. (southern wormwood) is a plant species with an important position in the history of European and Asian medicine. It is a species famous as a medicinal plant in Central Asia, Asia Minor, and in South-East and Central Europe. The raw materials obtained from this species are Abrotani herba and Abrotani folium. In the traditional European medicine, they have been used successfully most of all in liver and biliary tract diseases, in parasitic diseases in children and as antipyretic medication. In the official European medicine, this plant species is recommended by the French Pharmacopoeia for use in homeopathy. In many European countries, it is used traditionally in allopathy. The latest studies on the biological activity of extracts from the aboveground parts of the plant and/or the leaves, and/or the essential oil have provided evidence of other possible applications related to their antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiallergic properties. The latest studies have also focused on the repellent activity of the essential oil of this species and the possibility to use it in the prevention of diseases in which insects are the vectors. The main substances obtained from the plant that are responsible for this activity are: the essential oil, coumarins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Some of the latest investigations emphasize the large differences in the composition of the essential oil, determined by the geographical (climatic) origin of the plant. A. abrotanum is recommended by the European Cosmetic Ingredients Database (CosIng) as a source of valuable cosmetic ingredients. Additionally, the leaves of this species possess a well-established position in the food industry. This plant species is also the object of biotechnological studies.

Pilot Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Nail Gel Containing Artemisia abrotanum Extract and Glycerin in the Treatment of Nail Plate Surface Abnormality

Background: Nail gels are utilized for the treatment of nails for nail plate surface abnormalities. However, the objective measurement of nail gel treatment is limited. Objective: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of a nail gel containing glycerin and Artemisia abrotanum extract in treating nail plate surface abnormalities. Material and Methods: All nails were evaluated with a Visiometer® system and by transonychial water loss (TOWL) at baseline, and at the 2nd and 8th weeks of treatment. Results: In total, 19 patients with a mean age of 50.6 years old were enrolled and 50 nails were studied. Sixty percent of the patients showed significant clinical improvement, as determined by the total agreement between two treatment-blinded dermatologists. Regarding the Visiometer®, a significant reduction in the SER value (roughness) of the nail plates was found at the 2nd week, while at the 8th week, the surface and volume values had significantly decreased from baseline and also from the values at the 2nd week. There was a significant improvement in the Rku (smoothness) value at the 8th week compared to baseline. The mean TOWL at the 2nd and 8th weeks were statistically decreased from baseline. No side effects were detected. Conclusions: This nail gel containing Artemisia abrotanum extract provided benefits in restoring hydration and improving the nail barrier in patients with nail surface abnormalities.

The investigation of antimicrobial and antifungal activity of some Artemisia L. species

Background: Throughout history pathogenic microorganisms cause infectious diseases. Medicinal herbs play an important role in human life because they are used for the therapy and production of herbal remedies. Therefore, it is relevant to study the antibacterial activity of medicinal herbs including Artemisia L. species. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial and antifungal activity of Artemisia L. species extracts and to identify their synergistic antimicrobial effects with erythromycin against skin isolates of Staphylococcus aureus with different mechanisms of MLS-resistance. Materials and methods: Artemisia absinthium L. herb extracts (AAs-4, AAs-7, AAs-9), Artemisia vulgaris L. herb extracts (AV-4, AV-7, AV-9) and Artemisia abrotanum L. herb extracts (AAr-4, AAr-7, AAr-9) were used in this study (solvents – 40%, 70% and 90% ethyl alcohol respectively). The determination of antimicrobial activity of extracts was performed using clinical isolates of antibiotic susceptible and antibiotic resistant microorganisms. Bacterial cultures were identified on the basis of the biochemical microtests “STAPHYtest 16”, “ENTEROtest 24”, “NEFERMENTtest 24” taking into account the complex of their morphological and cultural properties in accordance with the recommendations of the 9th edition of “Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology”. Yeast-like fungi cultures were identified on the basis of 40 biochemical tests with the help of the VITEK 2 system using the VITEK 2 YST ID card. The synergism of the antimicrobial activity of extracts with erythromycin was investigated using the clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus with the non-inductive MLS-resistance mechanism (resistant to erythromycin at minimum bacteriostatic concentration of 125 μg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration of 250 μg/ml without induction of resistance to clindamycin). Research results: The evaluation of Artemisia L. herb extracts activity was carried out using standard strains of microorganisms which are recommended by the WHO. The results of the conducted studies indicate that Artemisia L. herb extracts are able to reduce the growth of microorganisms. The investigated extracts showed the potent bacteriostatic action against the cocci or rod-shaped microflora. The antimicrobial activity of Artemisia L. herb extracts directly depends on the concentration of ethanol as the solvent. Artemisia vulgaris L. herb extracts (solvents – 70% and 90% ethanol) and Artemisia abrotanum L. herb extract (solvent – 90% ethanol) show synergism of antimicrobial activity with erythromycin in relation to Staphylococcus aureus with efflux mechanism of MLS-resistance. The obtained Artemisia L. herb extracts can be used to create antifungal drugs, as well as antimicrobial drugs (against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria).

RESEARCH ON SOME PLANT SPECIES CONTAINING ESSENTIAL OILS PERFORMED AT UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY „IULIU HAŢIEGANU” CLUJ-NAPOCA

The present article offers a synthesis of original research performed at the department of Pharmaceutical botany of „Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca on 17 species and varieties of essential oil-containing plants that belong to 11 genera, all Romanian traditional medicinal, endemic or ornamental species. The essential oils were qualitatively analized and quantified by TLC and GC-MS from: Tanacetum balsamita (2 varieties), Artemisia abrotanum, Rhododendron myrtifolium, Origanum vulgare, Artemisia annua, Inula helenium, Salvia officinalis, Thuja occidentalis, Acorus calamus, Achillea (4 species) and Solidago (3 species). The chemical composition of these species belonging to the Romanian flora was established, two chemical infraspecific taxa were identified within Tanacetum balsamita and Achillea distans, and toxic compounds from essential oils (βasarone, thujone) were quantified.

Polyphenol Content and Biological Activities of Ruta graveolens L. and Artemisia abrotanum L. in Northern Saudi Arabia

Natural populations of Ruta graveolens L. and Artemisia abrotanum L. in northern Saudi Arabia may be a rich source of natural polyphenols with potential biological activities. Therefore, tentative high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection was used to analyze the polyphenol contents of leaf extracts. R. graveolens mainly contained the phenolic acids chlorogenic acid and p-coumaric acid and the flavonoids rutoside and quercetin, whereas those of A. abrotanum mainly contained the phenolic acids isochlorogenic acid and rosmarinic acid and the flavonoid quercetin. Leaf extracts of both species showed antioxidant activities due to the presence of quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid as well as antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities against cancer cells, which may be attributed to necrotic cell accumulation during the early and late apoptotic periods. Both species also exhibited antibacterial activity, although the activity was higher in R. graveolens due to the high contents of quercetin and other polyphenols. Finally, both species exhibited antifungal activities, which were associated with specific polyphenols. This is the first study to confirm the richness of polyphenols and wide spectrum of biological activities in natural populations of R. graveolens and A. abrotanum in northern Saudi Arabia.

Essential oil composition of Artemisia abrotanum L. during different vegetation stages in Lithuania

Artemisia abrotanum L. was introduced in the Middle of Lithuania Collection of Spice–Melliferous Plants of the Scientific Sector of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the Botanical Garden ex situ at Vytautas Magnus University since 1980. The object of investigation was Artemisiae abrotani herba of Artemisia abrotanum L. All samples were collected at different vegetation stages: growth and leaf production, flower bud development, the beginning of flowering, massive flowering and the end of flowering. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of the essential oils of Artemisiae abrotani herba was studied by GC/MS in the Department of Analytical and Toxicological Chemistry at the Lithuanian University of Health Science in 2018–2019. Fifty-six compounds of the oil were identified, of which (+)-piperitone was the major component (20.38–38.48%). The data in this study showed a remarkable quantitative variation of constituents in the essential oils. The highest content and diversity of compounds was determined during the flower bud development stage. Sixty identified compounds in this stage reached 76.6% of the identified oil content. The highest concentration of this compound (38.48%) was detected at the end of the flowering vegetation stage and the lowest amount (20.38%) was found during the growth and leaf production. Among the other major compounds were (+)-piperitone, 1,4-cineole, lavandulyl butyrate, aromandendrene and isogermacrene D.