Artemisia annua
Also known as: Annual mugwort, Annual wormwood, Huang hua hao, Quing hao, Sweet Annie, Sweet sagewort, Sweet wormwood
Overview
Artemisia annua gained popularity due to its antimalarial constituent artemisinin, which was discovered by the scientist Youyou Tu, who received a Nobel Prize for it in 2015. This herb has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Its genus is named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt and fertility, as it is one of the most widely distributed genera throughout the world. Artemisia annua and Artemisia absinthium are the most well-known species within this genus.
Benefits
Artemisia annua’s constituent artemisinin inhibits the growth of malaria parasites (Plasmodium species) by inhibiting the calcium pump necessary for protein metabolism and mitochondrial activity in Plasmodium cells. Additionally, in vitro and animal evidence suggests that Artemisia annua extracts have antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, these effects have yet to be validated in clinical research.
How it works
Limited research suggests that Artemisia annua might improve symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Artemisia annua extracts are also used for hair care and in skin care as an emollient, humectant and antibacterial agent. Extracts of Artemisia annua pollen have been used as immunotherapy to reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis during pollen season. In traditional Chinese medicine, Artemisia annua has been used for jaundice, for dysentery, for wounds and hemorrhoids, and to reduce fever. However, there’s no clinical research to support these uses.
Side effects
In clinical research 150–300 mg of Artemisia annua extract twice daily has been used for up to 9 months for symptoms of arthritis. In another clinical study, sublingual drops of glycerinated pollen extracts of Artemisia annua at a dosage of 2400 biological units daily for up to 32 weeks reduced symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Historically, Artemisia annua leaves have been consumed as a vegetable in Western Asia.
Dosage
Reported side effects from Artemisia annua include stomach pain, a slowed heart rate (bradycardia), diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and flu-like symptoms. However, since many of these adverse effects were reported in clinical studies for malaria, it's not clear whether these were symptoms of malaria or side effects caused by the herb. Additionally, Artemisia annua has allergenic pollen which has been reported to cause dermatitis (rash) and other allergy symptoms in susceptible individuals. There have been rare reports of liver toxicity with Artemisia annua. In one case report, 1.25 grams of Artemisia annua powder had been consumed daily for 4 weeks. In another case report, 600 mg of artemisinin (extracted from Artemisia annua) had been consumed daily for 10 days. A case series reported liver toxicity in 29 adults who had taken Artemisia annua supercritical carbon dioxide extract in grapeseed oil although it was criticized for having poor reporting methods and confounded causality testing. Artemisia annua should not be used during pregnancy, as animal research shows that it has toxic effects on the embryo/fetus.
FAQs
What is Artemisia annua?
Artemisia annua gained popularity due to its antimalarial constituent artemisinin, which was discovered by the scientist Youyou Tu, who received a Nobel Prize for it in 2015. This herb has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Its genus is named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt and fertility, as it is one of the most widely distributed genera throughout the world. Artemisia annua and Artemisia absinthium are the most well-known species within this genus.
What are Artemisia annua’s main benefits?
Limited research suggests that Artemisia annua might improve symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Artemisia annua extracts are also used for hair care and in skin care as an emollient, humectant and antibacterial agent. Extracts of Artemisia annua pollen have been used as immunotherapy to reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis during pollen season. In traditional Chinese medicine, Artemisia annua has been used for jaundice, for dysentery, for wounds and hemorrhoids, and to reduce fever. However, there’s no clinical research to support these uses.
What are Artemisia annua’s main drawbacks?
Reported side effects from Artemisia annua include stomach pain, a slowed heart rate (bradycardia), diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and flu-like symptoms. However, since many of these adverse effects were reported in clinical studies for malaria, it's not clear whether these were symptoms of malaria or side effects caused by the herb. Additionally, Artemisia annua has allergenic pollen which has been reported to cause dermatitis (rash) and other allergy symptoms in susceptible individuals. There have been rare reports of liver toxicity with Artemisia annua. In one case report, 1.25 grams of Artemisia annua powder had been consumed daily for 4 weeks. In another case report, 600 mg of artemisinin (extracted from Artemisia annua) had been consumed daily for 10 days. A case series reported liver toxicity in 29 adults who had taken Artemisia annua supercritical carbon dioxide extract in grapeseed oil although it was criticized for having poor reporting methods and confounded causality testing. Artemisia annua should not be used during pregnancy, as animal research shows that it has toxic effects on the embryo/fetus.
How does Artemisia annua work?
Artemisia annua’s constituent artemisinin inhibits the growth of malaria parasites (Plasmodium species) by inhibiting the calcium pump necessary for protein metabolism and mitochondrial activity in Plasmodium cells. Additionally, in vitro and animal evidence suggests that Artemisia annua extracts have antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, these effects have yet to be validated in clinical research.
