Tarragon

Renaissance herbalists described tarragon as sharp-tasting and warming. Matthiolus in the sixteenth century recorded it as an appetite stimulant, and as a leaf paste with honey applied to bruises ^{3Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →}.

In 1613 the Polish herbal of Syrennius described it as drying, warming and stimulating: it relieved toothache, cleared mucus from the head, stimulated digestion and acted as a diuretic ^{3Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →}.

By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was used in Europe more in the kitchen than in medicine ^{3Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →}. Folk uses in Europe included constipation, intestinal cramps and ulcers ^{3Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →}.

In Central Asia, including Russia, tarragon has been used for gastritis, indigestion (dyspepsia), skin irritation, allergic rashes and dermatitis, and to aid digestion and improve appetite ^{3Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →}.

In Iranian and Azerbaijani folk medicine, tarragon is taken by mouth as a remedy for epilepsy ^{3,22Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →Reference 22Sayyah M et al. · 2004AnimalAnticonvulsant activity and chemical composition of Artemisia dracunculus L. essential oil — animal modelView study →}.

In Arabic traditional medicine it has been used for insomnia and gum inflammation (gingivitis), and to mask the taste of other medicines ^{3Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →}.

In Ayurveda, tarragon is used for intestinal worms, intestinal spasm and fever, as a tonic, and to regulate the menstrual cycle ^{3Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →}.

In Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, a leaf paste is applied to wounds on the legs of yaks and donkeys, and the extract is taken for toothache, fever, dysentery, intestinal worms and stomach ache ^{3Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →}.

Native Americans used the leaves as a herb and a tea, and ate the leaves and seeds as food. The leaves, stems, roots and flowers were used widely as medicine, and the plant was used to repel insects ^{39Reference 39North Carolina State Extension (n.d.)Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon) — species description, cultivars, native range, growing conditions and toxicity — plant databaseView study →}.

Most of this work concerns PMI-5011, a standardized ethanolic extract of Russian tarragon. In diabetic KK-Aᵧ mice, 500 mg/kg daily for 7 days lowered blood glucose by 24% and insulin by 33%; metformin and troglitazone lowered glucose by 41% and 28%. In streptozotocin-diabetic mice the extract lowered glucose by 20%. It had no effect on glucose or insulin in non-diabetic animals ^{4Reference 4Ribnicky DM et al. · 2006AnimalAntihyperglycemic activity of Tarralin, an ethanolic extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. — animal model (mouse)View study →}.

The extract enhances insulin-receptor signalling (IRS/PI3-kinase/Akt) in skeletal muscle ^{5Reference 5Wang ZQ et al. · 2011AnimalAn extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. enhances insulin receptor signaling and modulates gene expression in skeletal muscle in KK-Aᵧ mice — animal modelView study →} and reduces ceramide- and inflammation-driven insulin resistance in muscle cells ^{6,9Reference 6Vandanmagsar B et al. · 2014In vitroArtemisia dracunculus L. extract ameliorates insulin sensitivity by attenuating inflammatory signalling in human skeletal muscle culture — in vitroView study →Reference 9Obanda DN et al. · 2012In vitroBioactives of Artemisia dracunculus L. mitigate the role of ceramides in attenuating insulin signaling in rat skeletal muscle cells — in vitroView study →}. It stimulates insulin secretion and activates AMPK in isolated islets ^{7Reference 7Aggarwal S et al. · 2015In vitroAn extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. stimulates insulin secretion from β cells, activates AMPK and suppresses inflammation — in vitro / animalView study →}, suppresses glucose production in liver cells by lowering PEPCK ^{8Reference 8Govorko D et al. · 2007In vitroPolyphenolic compounds from Artemisia dracunculus L. inhibit PEPCK gene expression and gluconeogenesis in an H4IIE hepatoma cell line — in vitroView study →}, and reduced fat build-up in the muscle and liver of high-fat-fed male mice ^{10Reference 10Yu Y et al. · 2018AnimalAn extract of Russian tarragon prevents obesity-related ectopic lipid accumulation — animal model (mouse)View study →}.

Fractionation traced the activity to specific polyphenols, chiefly DMC-2 and 6-demethoxycapillarisin ^{8,13Reference 8Govorko D et al. · 2007In vitroPolyphenolic compounds from Artemisia dracunculus L. inhibit PEPCK gene expression and gluconeogenesis in an H4IIE hepatoma cell line — in vitroView study →Reference 13Yu Y et al. · 2019In vitroThe DESIGNER approach helps decipher the hypoglycemic bioactive principles of Artemisia dracunculus L. — in vitroView study →}. In pancreatic β-cells, DMC-2 reduced p38-MAPK/NF-κB inflammatory signalling while preserving insulin secretion ^{32Reference 32Smoak P et al. · 2022In vitroArtemisia dracunculus L. ethanolic extract and an isolated component, DMC2, ameliorate inflammatory signaling in pancreatic β-cells via inhibition of p38 MAPK — in vitroView study →}.

In female high-fat-fed mice, PMI-5011 increased body weight, fat mass and liver glucose production, though it reduced fat in muscle ^{29Reference 29Fuller S et al. · 2018AnimalPotential adverse effects of botanical supplementation in high-fat-fed female mice — animal modelView study →}.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 24 adults with impaired glucose tolerance, A. dracunculus 1,000 mg before breakfast and dinner for 90 days lowered HbA1c (5.8% to 5.6%), insulin output and systolic blood pressure (120 to 113 mmHg), and raised HDL cholesterol. Placebo produced no changes ^{1Reference 1Méndez-Del Villar M et al. · 2016RCTEffect of Artemisia dracunculus administration on glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion in patients with impaired glucose tolerance — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT)View study →}.

Gap: The human evidence is one small trial. A 2024 study found that a plain water extract barely inhibited α-amylase in vitro ^{35Reference 35Jaradat N et al. · 2024In vitroTotal phenolic contents, cytotoxic, free radical, porcine pancreatic α-amylase, and lipase suppressant activities of Artemisia dracunculus from Palestine — in vitroView study →}, so these results do not describe culinary tarragon, tea or a generic tincture.

Anti-inflammatory activity appears across several models. An ethanolic aerial-part extract, injected into mice at 50–100 mg/kg, reduced xylene-induced ear swelling ^{17Reference 17Eidi A et al. · 2016AnimalAntinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the aerial parts of Artemisia dracunculus in mice — animal modelView study →}. An oral aqueous leaf extract (100 mg/kg for four weeks) lowered IL-6 and TNF in fructose-fed rats ^{19Reference 19Mohammad Reza S et al. · 2015AnimalThe nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Artemisia dracunculus L. aqueous extract on fructose-fed male rats — animal modelView study →}.

A tarragon infusion inhibited the release of reactive oxygen species, IL-8 and TNF-α from human neutrophils in vitro ^{14Reference 14Majdan M et al. · 2020In vitroInhibition of neutrophil functions and antibacterial effects of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) infusion — in vitroView study →}. In human muscle cells, PMI-5011 reduced NF-κB signalling and lowered MCP-1 and TNF-α ^{6Reference 6Vandanmagsar B et al. · 2014In vitroArtemisia dracunculus L. extract ameliorates insulin sensitivity by attenuating inflammatory signalling in human skeletal muscle culture — in vitroView study →}. The isolated dihydrochalcone DMC-2 had a similar effect in pancreatic β-cells through p38 MAPK ^{32Reference 32Smoak P et al. · 2022In vitroArtemisia dracunculus L. ethanolic extract and an isolated component, DMC2, ameliorate inflammatory signaling in pancreatic β-cells via inhibition of p38 MAPK — in vitroView study →}.

A water extract free of estragole and methyleugenol, given to mice at 100 mg/kg for 21 days, lowered the inflammatory signals IL-17 and IFN-γ, raised antibody levels and reduced cell-mediated immunity ^{15Reference 15Abtahi Froushani SM et al. · 2016AnimalEstragole and methyl-eugenol-free extract of Artemisia dracunculus possesses immunomodulatory effects — animal model (mouse)View study →}. This shows the activity does not depend on the oil’s volatile phenylpropanoids.

There is no human anti-inflammatory trial.

A hydro-alcoholic extract of the aerial parts, given to rats at 50–200 mg/kg for 15 days before a dose of carbon tetrachloride, lowered ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin and reduced liver damage. Silymarin was the comparator, and the extract’s LD₅₀ was above 5,000 mg/kg ^{16Reference 16Zarezade V et al. · 2018AnimalAntioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Artemisia dracunculus against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in rats — animal modelView study →}.

In high-fat-fed mice, PMI-5011 reduced fat accumulation in the liver and improved liver insulin signalling ^{10Reference 10Yu Y et al. · 2018AnimalAn extract of Russian tarragon prevents obesity-related ectopic lipid accumulation — animal model (mouse)View study →}. It also suppresses the glucose-producing enzyme PEPCK in liver cells ^{8Reference 8Govorko D et al. · 2007In vitroPolyphenolic compounds from Artemisia dracunculus L. inhibit PEPCK gene expression and gluconeogenesis in an H4IIE hepatoma cell line — in vitroView study →}.

The carbon tetrachloride model is a toxicological screen rather than a model of a common human liver disease. There is no clinical liver data.

Aerial-part extracts show strong radical-scavenging and reducing activity in DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. One hydro-alcoholic extract had a total phenolic content of about 197 mg gallic-acid equivalent per gram ^{16Reference 16Zarezade V et al. · 2018AnimalAntioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Artemisia dracunculus against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in rats — animal modelView study →}.

A 2024 aqueous extract had a DPPH IC₅₀ of about 11 µg/mL, against 5.7 µg/mL for the Trolox reference ^{35Reference 35Jaradat N et al. · 2024In vitroTotal phenolic contents, cytotoxic, free radical, porcine pancreatic α-amylase, and lipase suppressant activities of Artemisia dracunculus from Palestine — in vitroView study →}.

In a comparison of six medicinal plants, the antioxidant activity of the extracts tracked their caffeic acid derivatives; tarragon’s water-ethanol extract was high in dicaffeoylquinic acids ^{30Reference 30Tajner-Czopek A et al. · 2020In vitroStudy of antioxidant activity of some medicinal plants having high content of caffeic acid derivatives — in vitroView study →}.

These are test-tube measurements, with no human data.

Pain relief appears with both the extract and the essential oil. An injected ethanolic aerial-part extract (50–100 mg/kg) reduced both phases of the formalin test, raised the hot-plate threshold and reduced writhing in mice. Naloxone partly blocked the effect, suggesting opioid involvement ^{17Reference 17Eidi A et al. · 2016AnimalAntinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the aerial parts of Artemisia dracunculus in mice — animal modelView study →}.

The injected essential oil (10–300 mg/kg) reduced pain in formalin, acetic-acid and hot-plate tests in rats and mice. Naloxone did not block it, and the estimated LD₅₀ was 1,250 mg/kg ^{18Reference 18Maham M et al. · 2014AnimalAntinociceptive effect of the essential oil of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) — animal model (rat/mouse)View study →}.

An oral aqueous leaf extract reduced the formalin pain response in fructose-fed rats ^{19Reference 19Mohammad Reza S et al. · 2015AnimalThe nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Artemisia dracunculus L. aqueous extract on fructose-fed male rats — animal modelView study →}.

The data are all from acute rodent models. There is no human pain trial.

Tarragon essential oil inhibited Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in culture, at minimum inhibitory concentrations of 1,250 and 2,500 µg/mL, and reduced both in a white cheese ^{20Reference 20Raeisi M et al. · 2012In vitroEssential oil of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli — in vitroView study →}. Tarragon oil was also active against Candida albicans, though an oil from A. abrotanum was stronger ^{21Reference 21Obistioiu D et al. · 2014In vitroChemical characterization by GC-MS and in vitro activity against Candida albicans of volatile oils including Artemisia dracunculus — in vitroView study →}.

A tarragon infusion was most active against S. aureus, including MRSA, and S. epidermidis ^{14Reference 14Majdan M et al. · 2020In vitroInhibition of neutrophil functions and antibacterial effects of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) infusion — in vitroView study →}.

Gap: In vitro only. The data do not show an effect from tarragon taken by mouth.

Tarragon essential oil had dose-dependent anti-seizure activity in rodents in both the maximal-electroshock and pentylenetetrazole models, with ED₅₀ values of 0.84 and 0.26 mL/kg. Some effective doses also caused sedation and impaired coordination ^{22Reference 22Sayyah M et al. · 2004AnimalAnticonvulsant activity and chemical composition of Artemisia dracunculus L. essential oil — animal modelView study →}.

Sterile tarragon cell cultures grown in the laboratory produced trace amounts of the benzodiazepines delorazepam and temazepam, about 100–200 ng/g, and their extract bound the human benzodiazepine receptor ^{23Reference 23Kavvadias D et al. · 2000In vitroIdentification of benzodiazepines in Artemisia dracunculus and Solanum tuberosum — in vitroView study →}.

In mice, oral PMI-5011 promoted resilience to depression-like behaviour after repeated social stress, and reduced stress-induced inflammation in the blood ^{24Reference 24Wang J et al. · 2018AnimalAn extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. promotes psychological resilience in a mouse model of depression — animal modelView study →}.

Gap: The anticonvulsant data are from the essential oil at sedating doses. The benzodiazepine finding comes from cell cultures, not from the harvested herb.

A 2026 rat study gave an oral aerial-part extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) for 20 days, starting four days before doxorubicin. All three doses improved heart function on echocardiography, lowered markers of heart injury (troponin, CK-MB, LDH), and reduced oxidative, inflammatory and fibrotic damage. Vitamin E was the comparator ^{34Reference 34Toumari L et al. · 2026AnimalEvaluation of the protective effects of Artemisia dracunculus L. against doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiotoxicity in rat — animal modelView study →}.

Gap: A single animal study in a chemotherapy-toxicity model, with no human data.

The standardized extract. PMI-5011 (Tarralin) showed no mutagenic activity in the Ames test. It caused no signs of toxicity in an acute test at 5,000 mg/kg, and no adverse effects in rats at up to 1,000 mg/kg/day for 90 days ^{27Reference 27Ribnicky DM et al. · 2004AnimalToxicological evaluation of the ethanolic extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. for use as a dietary supplement and in functional foods — animal modelView study →}.

Estragole and methyleugenol. Depending on the cultivar, the essential oil can hold up to 82% estragole and 39% methyleugenol ^{2Reference 2Obolskiy D et al. · 2011ReviewArtemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon): a critical review of its traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology, and safety — reviewView study →}. Estragole given to mice by mouth or injection induced liver tumours, through its metabolite 1′-hydroxyestragole ^{3Reference 3Ekiert H et al. · 2021ReviewArtemisia dracunculus (tarragon): a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology — reviewView study →}. Tarragon oil damaged DNA in a bacterial test, an effect traced to its estragole ^{25Reference 25Zani F et al. · 1991In vitroStudies on the genotoxic properties of essential oils with Bacillus subtilis rec-assay and Salmonella/microsome reversion assay — in vitroView study →}. No acute toxicity or mutagenic activity has been reported at doses relevant to human consumption, and water extracts contain very little of either compound ^{2Reference 2Obolskiy D et al. · 2011ReviewArtemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon): a critical review of its traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology, and safety — reviewView study →}.

Other toxicity findings. One tarragon extract caused dose-related DNA damage in human blood cells in vitro, and dose-related rises in liver enzymes and liver changes in mice given it by mouth ^{26Reference 26Kalantari H et al. · 2013In vitroToxicological and mutagenic analysis of Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon) extract — in vitro / animalView study →}.

Drug interactions. Two alkamides from the leaf inhibit CYP3A4 in vitro, with IC₅₀ values of 3–10 µM ^{28Reference 28Brahmi Z et al. · 2012In vitroEffective cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibitors isolated from tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) — in vitroView study →}. A clinical interaction has not been shown.

Immune effects. In mice, 14 days of a hydroalcoholic extract at 250–500 mg/kg raised white-cell counts and IFN-γ and lowered IL-4, an immune-stimulating effect ^{36Reference 36Forouzanfar F et al. · 2024AnimalImmunomodulation induced in BALB/c mice after subacute exposure to hydroalcoholic extract of Artemisia dracunculus — animal modelView study →}.

Allergy and skin. As a member of the daisy family, tarragon may cross-react in people allergic to ragweed, mugwort or other composites. Its essential oils, particularly in the roots, can cause contact dermatitis ^{39Reference 39North Carolina State Extension (n.d.)Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon) — species description, cultivars, native range, growing conditions and toxicity — plant databaseView study →}.

Animals. Tarragon is poisonous to dogs, cats and horses if eaten in large enough amounts ^{39Reference 39North Carolina State Extension (n.d.)Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon) — species description, cultivars, native range, growing conditions and toxicity — plant databaseView study →}.