The herb Artemisia annua has been used for many centuries in Chinese traditional medicine as a treatment for fever and malaria. In 1971, Chinese chemists isolated from the leafy portions of the plant the substance responsible for its reputed medicinal action. This compound, called qinghaosu (QHS, artemisinin), is a sesquiterpene lactone that bears a peroxide grouping and, unlike most other antimalarials, lacks a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring system. The compound has been used successfully in several thousand malaria patients in China, including those with both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Derivatives of QHS, such as dihydroqinghaosu, artemether, and the water-soluble sodium artesunate, appear to be more potent than QHS itself. Sodium artesunate acts rapidly in restoring to consciousness comatose patients with cerebral malaria. Thus QHS and its derivatives offer promise as a totally new class of antimalarials.

Quinghaosu (artemisin): an antimalarial drug from china

Artemisia L. is a genus of small herbs and shrubs found in northern temperate regions. It belongs to the important family Asteraceae, one of the most numerous plant groupings, which comprises about...

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X19850354

Bioactive Compounds and Health Benefits of Artemisia Species

Essential oils of aromatic and medicinal plants generally have a diverse range of activities because they possess several active constituents that work through several modes of action. The genus Artemisia includes the largest genus of family Asteraceae has several medicinal uses in human and plant diseases aliments. Extensive investigations on essential oil composition, antimicrobial, insecticidal and antioxidant studies have been conducted for various species of this genus. In this review, we have compiled data of recent literature (2012–2017) on essential oil composition, antimicrobial, insecticidal and antioxidant activities of different species of the genus Artemisia. Regarding the antimicrobial and insecticidal properties we have only described here efficacy of essential oils against plant pathogens and insect pests. The literature revealed that 1, 8-cineole, beta-pinene, thujone, artemisia ketone, camphor, caryophyllene, camphene and germacrene D are the major components in most of the essential oils of this plant species. Oils from different species of genus Artemisia exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens and insecticidal activity against insect pests. However, only few species have been explored for antioxidant activity.

https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/4/3/68/pdf

The Genus Artemisia: a 2012-2017 Literature Review on Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial, Insecticidal and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils.

Medicinal and aromatic plant materials as nitrification inhibitors for augmenting yield and nitrogen uptake of Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L. Var. Piperascens).

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted with the natural essential oil of peppermint (Mentha spicata, MS), dementholized oil (DMO), terpenes, and a chemical inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD), as coating materials for retardation of soil urea hydrolysis and nitrification. Retardation of nitrification was highest with DCD. The urea hydrolysis and nitrification processes were inhibited by all three natural products. Intensity of inhibition of both the processes increased with the level of application of the coating materials. With 0.50% level of coating, urea hydrolysis inhibition was in this decreasing order: DMO>terpenes>DCD>M. spicata oil; whereas at 1.00%, inhibition followed this order: terpenes>DMO>M. spicata oil>DCD. At 0.50% level of coating nitrification inhibition decreased in this order: M. spicata oil>DCD>DMO>terpenes; with 1.00%, the order was DCD>DMO>M. spicata oil>terpenes. All the three natural products (DMO, terpenes, and M. spicata oil) significantly retarded soil urease activ...

Urease and nitrification retardation properties in natural essential oils and their by-products

Artemisia annua (Asterales: Asteraceae) is one of the important natural sources of antimalarial compounds i.e., artemisinin and artemisinic acid. Also this plant is cultivated on a large area in India under industry-farmer partnerships. With a view to enhance the added value of the raw material of A. annua and its chemical constituents, we evaluated methanolic extract of powdered A. annua leaves and different compounds isolated from the extract for toxicity and inhibition and disruption of growth and development of the African pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Methanol extract of A. annua and eight known constituent compounds [artemisinic acid, artemisinin, scopoletin, arteannuin-B, deoxy-artemisinin, artemetin and isomeric flavonoids (casticin and chrysosplenetin)] were bio-assayed for larval mortality, abnormal development, and growth inhibition. The methanol extract severely affected 100% of the larva treated, i.e., larvae gained very little weight, some larvae...

Isomeric Flavonoids of Artemisia annua (Asterales: Asteraceae) as Insect Growth Inhibitors Against Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Methanolic extract of different parts of Artemisia annua, (Leaf, shoot, and seed) and essential oil were evaluated for their effect on growth and development of larvae of Helicoverpa armigera. The experiments were done by the incorporation of different extracts and essential oil in semi- synthetic diet at two percent concentration. Among leaf, stem, seed extract and essential oil treatments the larval weight was reduced by diet containing essential oil (69.71%) and leaf extract of A. annua (60.21%) as compared to control. The prolongation of larval and pupal period and an average more than fifty percent IGR activity was recorded by the treatments of A. annua extract and essential oil. The growth retardation, including reduced weight and prolongation of larvae may possibly interrupt the production of insect hormone- ecdysone level in insect body which also delayed the pupation. Physiological effects found in treated larvae included formation of larva pupa intermediate and adultoids.

https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2014/vol2issue6/PartF/39-597.pdf

Biological effect of sweet wormwood, Artemisia annua methanol extracts and essential oil against Helicoverpa armigera Hub. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Nitrification inhibitory properties in mentha-spent and pyrethrum flowers

Histological studies revealed disruption of the cellular structures of the H. armigera larval midgut, fed on methanol leaf extract of A. annua at 2 percent concentration. The most characteristic effect was disruption of peritrophic membrane in the midgut of larvae. Overall tissue destruction leaving gaps and lacunae at various layers was observed.

Histopathological effects of Artemisia annua extract on the midgut of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

A new and distinct hybrid plant named `Himalaya` (Mentha arvensis) characterized by its higher yield of oil which is rich in menthol, improved regeneration potential, vigorous growth, deep green broad thick leaves, pinkish white flowers and tolerance to rust such as alternaria leaf blight, corynespora leaf spot and powdery mildew.

Dwijendra Singh

Papers

Isomeric Flavonoids of Artemisia annua (Asterales: Asteraceae) as Insect Growth Inhibitors Against Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Biological effect of sweet wormwood, Artemisia annua methanol extracts and essential oil against Helicoverpa armigera Hub. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Nitrification inhibitory properties in mentha-spent and pyrethrum flowers

Histopathological effects of Artemisia annua extract on the midgut of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Mini plant Mentha arvensis `Himalaya`