Artemisia herba-alba

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Artemisia herba-alba
Artemisa herba alba floratrek2013.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Artemisia
Species:
A. herba-alba
Binomial name
Artemisia herba-alba
Synonyms [1]
  • Artemisia aethiopicaL.
  • Artemisia aragonensisLam.
  • Artemisia lippiiJan ex Besser
  • Artemisia ontinaDufour
  • Seriphidium herba-alba(Asso) Soják

Artemisia herba-alba, the white wormwood, is a perennial shrub in the genus Artemisia that grows commonly on the dry steppes of the Mediterranean regions in Northern Africa (Saharan Maghreb), Western Asia (Arabian Peninsula) and Southwestern Europe. [2] It is used as an antiseptic and antispasmodic in herbal medicine.

Contents

Names

Its specific epithet herba-alba means "white herb" in Latin, as its stems and leaves are white and woolly. [3] Similarly, it is armoise herbe-blanche or armoise blanche in French.

In Arabic, it is shīeḥ (الشيح). [4] And it is la'anah (לענה) in Old Testament Hebrew. [5] [6] "Wormwood" (in the Bible, Rev. 8:10–11).

Botanical description

Artemisia herba-alba is a chamaeophyte that grows to 20–40 cm (8–16 in). Leaves are strongly aromatic and covered with fine glandular hairs that reflect sunlight giving a grayish aspect to the shrub. The leaves of sterile shoots are grey, petiolate, ovate to orbicular in outline; whereas, the leaves of flowering stems, more abundant in winter, are much smaller. [7]

The flowering heads are sessile, oblong and tapering at base. The plant flowers from September to December. [8] The receptacle is naked with 2–5 yellowish hermaphrodite flowers per head. [7]

Artemisia herba-alba, the 'white wormwood', in a garden Artemisia herba-alba.jpg
Artemisia herba-alba, the 'white wormwood', in a garden

Phytochemistry

Essential oil of A. herba-alba, from the Sinai Desert, contains mainly 1,8-cineole and appreciable amounts of α- / β-thujone as well as other oxygenated monoterpenes including terpinen-4-ol, camphor and borneol. [9] Davanone, chrysanthenone and cis-chrysanthenol have been described as major constituents in some populations of A. herba-alba from Morocco [10] and Spain. [11] Less common non-head-to-tail monoterpene alcohols have been identified in some populations from Negev desert, such as santolina alcohol and yomogi alcohol. [12]

Several sesquiterpene lactones were found in the aerial parts of A. herba-alba. Mainly, eudesmanolides and germacranolides types were reported in most cases. [13] A variety of flavonoids were also described mainly with methylated (i.e. patuletin) and O-methylated (i.e. hispidulin, cirsilineol) aglycones. [14] [15] The presence of C-glycosides (i.e. isovitexin, schaftoside, isoschaftoside) is also noticeable. [14] [16]

Uses

Artemisia herba-alba is good fodder for grazing animals, mainly sheep, and in the Algerian steppes cattle. [9] [17]

Herbal medicine

This species of sagebrush is widely used in herbal medicine for its antiseptic, vermifuge and antispasmodic properties. [9] Artemisia herba-alba was reported as a traditional remedy of enteritis, and various intestinal disturbances, among the Bedouins in the Negev desert. [18] Based on laboratory assays, essential oil showed antibacterial activity, [19] as well as, antispasmodic activity on rabbits [9] and cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. [20]

Artemisia herba-alba based teas were used in Iraqi folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. [21] An aqueous extract of aerial parts of the plant has shown a hypoglycemic effect in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits and mice. [22] [23] [24] [25]

Culture

Artemisia herba-alba is thought to be the plant translated as "wormwood" in English-language versions of the Bible (apsinthos in the Greek text). Wormwood is mentioned seven times in the Jewish Bible, always with the implication of bitterness. Wormwood is mentioned once in the New Testament, as the name of a star, also with implications of bitterness. [26]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Artemisia absinthium</i> Species of plant

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<i>Artemisia scoparia</i> Species of flowering plant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triterpene</span> Class of chemical compounds

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galangin</span> Chemical compound

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prenylflavonoid</span>

Prenylated flavonoids or prenylflavonoids are a sub-class of flavonoids. They are widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. Some are known to have phytoestrogenic or antioxidant properties. They are given in the list of adaptogens in herbalism. Chemically they have a prenyl group attached to their flavonoid backbone. It is usually assumed that the addition of hydrophobic prenyl groups facilitate attachment to cell membranes. Prenylation may increase the potential activity of its original flavonoid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verbascoside</span> Chemical compound

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pterocarpan</span> Class of chemical compounds

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bakuchiol</span> Chemical compound

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References

  1. The Plant List Artemisia herba-alba Asso
  2. "Artemisia herba-alba". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 16 February 2010.
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  6. Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Plants in the Bible: Wormwood"  . Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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  26. Musselman, Lytton John (12 April 2007). "Wormwood". Plant Site: Bible Plants. Old Dominion University. Retrieved 2 June 2013.