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Wormwood

Materia Medica

Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium

digestive

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) — a deeply bitter, antiparasitic herb used to expel worms and clear gut infections; use cautiously.

Work in progress Updated November 2017

What Is Wormwood?

Wormwood is most famous for its central role in the European liquor known commonly as “Absinthe.” The mild psychedelic liquor owes much of its psychoactivity to the thujone content of the wormwood (as well as the high alcohol content of course).

Wormwood is a deeply bitter herb and is useful for removing parasites of the gastrointestinal tract as well as cleaning out bacterial infections. It’s antiviral and carminative, but can also be neurotoxic at high doses thanks to the thujone.

What Is Wormwood Used For?

Wormwood is mainly used for treating parasitic infections, bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract, spasmodic conditions, and as a bitter to stimulate digestion and appetite.

Traditional Uses

Western Herbal Medicine

Artemisia absinthium has traditionally been used to treat parasitic, and bacterial infection, as well as neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, stomach aches, fevers, declining cognitive function, hepatitis, and as a cardiac stimulant, nootropic, and antispasmodic agent 1,7Reference 1Ghafoori et al. · 2014STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLCReference 7Joshi · 2013Volatile composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium growing in Western Ghats region of North West Karnataka, India. Artemesia as a genus, including wormwood, were often used to treat conditions such as malaria, hepatitis, cancer, inflammation, and fungal infections 1,6Reference 1Ghafoori et al. · 2014STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLCReference 6Bora et al. · 2011ReviewThe genus Artemisia: a comprehensive review.

In Culpeper’s complete herbal, Culpepper lists wormwood seeds for expelling worms 15Reference 15Culpeper · 1995Culpeper’s complete herbal: A book of natural remedies for ancient ills.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine, this herb is referred to as yin chen and is used to treat acute biliary dysentery, cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases 7,18Reference 7Joshi · 2013Volatile composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium growing in Western Ghats region of North West Karnataka, IndiaReference 18Yang et al. · 2013Introduction to Chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 217-220).

Pinyin

Yin Chen (Alternate names are Yin Chen Hao or Mian yin chen)

Taste

Bitter and pungent 18Reference 18Yang et al. · 2013Introduction to Chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 217-220)

Energy

Cool 18Reference 18Yang et al. · 2013Introduction to Chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 217-220)

Actions

Clears heat, drains dampness, promotes gallbladder function, relieves jaundice 18Reference 18Yang et al. · 2013Introduction to Chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 217-220).

Indications

Jaundice, scanty urine, eczema, itching, abdominal distention and fullness, greasy tongue coating 18Reference 18Yang et al. · 2013Introduction to Chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 217-220).

Iran

In northern parts of Iran, where Artemisia absinthium grows wild, its aerial parts are traditionally used as both food and medicine 1Reference 1Ghafoori et al. · 2014STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLC. It has been, and is continued to be used in the food industry to prepare aperitifs, bitters, and spirits 7Reference 7Joshi · 2013Volatile composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium growing in Western Ghats region of North West Karnataka, India, such as absinth.

Botanical Information

Wormwood is one of the many medicinal species of Artemisia, or “sage,” not to be confused with Salvia, which is also a large family of sages. This particular family has a wide range of different medicinal actions from species to species. It’s a member of the Asteraceae family of plants, which is the second largest of the flowering families of plants containing some 32,000 species and 1911 genera. There are about 250-500 species in the genus Artemisia, which are mainly found in Europe, Asia, and North America 1Reference 1Ghafoori et al. · 2014STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLC.

The herb itself can be described as a perennial herbaceous plant with a woody rhizome.

Some of the other notable members of the Artemesia genus includes:

  • Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort)
  • Artemisia arbuscula (Sagebrush)
  • Artemisia canadensis (Canada wormwood)
  • Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon)

Habitat, Ecology & Distribution

The genus Artemisia can be found over a wide range from North America, through Europe, and Asia 1,2Reference 1Ghafoori et al. · 2014STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLCReference 2Bremer · 1993ReviewGeneric monograph of the Asteraceae-Anthemideae. Artemisia absinthium specifically is mainly found growing wild in Northern Iran 1Reference 1Ghafoori et al. · 2014STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLC. In China, it’s commonly found growing in most gravel areas 18Reference 18Yang et al. · 2013Introduction to Chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 217-220).

Harvesting, Collection & Preparation

When preparing Artemisia absinthium, a study investigating the antioxidant potential of various extracts discovered that the optimal temperature for extraction using a variety of solvents was 45 degrees C, and the best solvent was methanol (75%). They recorded the highest extraction was with a 75% methanol extract at this temperature, and the lowest was a 100% water extract 1Reference 1Ghafoori et al. · 2014STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLC.

Some of the best wormwood is suggested to come from Jiangxi, China 18Reference 18Yang et al. · 2013Introduction to Chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 217-220).

Pharmacology & Medical Research

Antimicrobial

The antimicrobial effects of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium were shown to be most pronounced in gram-positive bacteria. The reason for this is suggested to be due to gram-negative bacteria’s hydrophilic outer membrane which blocks the mainly hydrophobic compounds found in Artemisia absinthium volatile oil from entering the cell membrane 7Reference 7Joshi · 2013Volatile composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium growing in Western Ghats region of North West Karnataka, India.

Anthelmintic

In vitro studies have determined Artemisia absinthium to possess anti-parasitic activity 4Reference 4Gonzalez-Coloma et al. · 2012Major components of Spanish cultivated Artemisia absinthium populations: Antifeedant, antiparasitic, and antioxidant effects.

Cancer

Wormwood extracts have been shown to possess anti-cancer effects via cell apoptosis signaling in human breast cancer cell lines. Its actions have been found to be through multiple apoptosis pathways, which suggests a powerful synergy contained within the chemistry of this plant. 14Reference 14Shafi et al. · 2012Artemisia absinthium (AA): a novel potential complementary and alternative medicine for breast cancer.

Hepatoprotective

An aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium was shown to protect the liver cells from chemical toxins 5Reference 5Amat et al. · 2010AnimalIn vivo hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium L. against chemically and immunologically induced liver injuries in mice.

Phytochemistry

Wormwood’s two defining features are its essential oil — dominated in the classic chemotype by the neurotoxic monoterpene ketone thujone (as α- and β-isomers, the marker behind absinthe’s reputation) — and its intensely bitter sesquiterpene lactones, chiefly absinthin. The oil also carries sabinene, trans-sabinyl acetate, myrcene and 1,8-cineole, and the herb yields antioxidant flavonol glycosides of quercetin and isorhamnetin 1,3,7,12,13Reference 1Ghafoori et al. · 2014STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLCReference 3Hoffmann et al. · 1982Phenolic SpeciesReference 7Joshi · 2013Volatile composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium growing in Western Ghats region of North West Karnataka, IndiaReference 12Lopes-Lutz et al. · 2008Screening of chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Artemisia essential oilsReference 13Orav et al. · 2006Orav, A., Raal, A., Arak, E., Muurisepp, M., & Kailas, T. (2006, September). Composition of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium L. of different geographical origin. In Proceedings-estonian Academy of Sciences Chemistry (Vol. 55, No. 3, p. 155). TRUEKITUD OU..

The plant is strongly chemotype-dependent: separate sabinyl-acetate, cis-epoxyocimene and thujone chemotypes occur, so two samples can differ wildly in thujone content. Compounds marked † are the chemotype-defining markers.

Constituent Summary

Share of the essential oil unless noted; figures vary enormously by chemotype, geographical origin and plant organ. Total essential oil is roughly 0.2–1.3% of the dried herb 1,7Reference 1Ghafoori et al. · 2014STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLCReference 7Joshi · 2013Volatile composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium growing in Western Ghats region of North West Karnataka, India. † = chemotype-differentiating marker.

Volatile oil (terpenoids)
Grouped by class · 10 compounds
Monoterpene10 compounds4 with data
MonoterpeneThujone (α + β) †~10–36% (chemotype-dependent) 13Reference 13Orav et al. · 2006Orav, A., Raal, A., Arak, E., Muurisepp, M., & Kailas, T. (2006, September). Composition of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium L. of different geographical origin. In Proceedings-estonian Academy of Sciences Chemistry (Vol. 55, No. 3, p. 155). TRUEKITUD OU.
Monoterpenetrans-Sabinyl acetate †major in sabinyl-acetate chemotype 13Reference 13Orav et al. · 2006Orav, A., Raal, A., Arak, E., Muurisepp, M., & Kailas, T. (2006, September). Composition of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium L. of different geographical origin. In Proceedings-estonian Academy of Sciences Chemistry (Vol. 55, No. 3, p. 155). TRUEKITUD OU.
Monoterpeneβ-Pineneup to ~24% 13Reference 13Orav et al. · 2006Orav, A., Raal, A., Arak, E., Muurisepp, M., & Kailas, T. (2006, September). Composition of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium L. of different geographical origin. In Proceedings-estonian Academy of Sciences Chemistry (Vol. 55, No. 3, p. 155). TRUEKITUD OU.
MonoterpeneSabineneNo data
MonoterpeneMyrceneNo data
Monoterpenetrans-SabinolNo data
MonoterpeneLinalyl acetateNo data
MonoterpeneGeranyl propionateNo data
Monoterpene1,8-Cineole<~3.4% 13Reference 13Orav et al. · 2006Orav, A., Raal, A., Arak, E., Muurisepp, M., & Kailas, T. (2006, September). Composition of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium L. of different geographical origin. In Proceedings-estonian Academy of Sciences Chemistry (Vol. 55, No. 3, p. 155). TRUEKITUD OU.
MonoterpeneBorneolNo data
Sesquiterpene lactones
Grouped by class · 1 compound
Sesquiterpene lactone1 compound1 with data
Sesquiterpene lactoneAbsinthin~0.20–0.28% of herb 19Reference 19Aberham et al. · 2010Analysis of sesquiterpene lactones, lignans, and flavonoids in wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) using HPLC-mass spectrometry, reversed phase HPLC, and HPLC-solid phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonanceView study →
Flavonol glycosides (phenolics)
Grouped by class · 4 compounds
Flavonoid4 compoundsno data
FlavonoidQuercetinNo data
FlavonoidIsorhamnetinNo data
FlavonoidPatuletinNo data
FlavonoidSpinacetin derivativesNo data

Clinical Applications

Wormwood is a reliable bitter herb, and is useful for eliminating parasites and treating infections of the gastrointestinal tract.

References

  1. Ghafoori, H., Sariri, R., & Naghavi, M. R. (2014). STudy of effect of extraction conditions on the biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium by HPLC and TLC. Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies, 37(11), 1558-1567.
  2. Bremer, K. (1993). Generic monograph of the Asteraceae-Anthemideae. Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. London (Bot.), 23, 71-177.
  3. Hoffmann, B. Z.; Herrmann, K. (1982). Phenolic Species. 8. Flavonol Glycosides of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) and Absinthe (Artemisia absinthium L.). Z Lebensm Unters-Forsch. 174, 211–215.
  4. Gonzalez-Coloma, A., Bailen, M., Diaz, C. E., Fraga, B. M., Martínez-Díaz, R., Zuñiga, G. E., … & Burillo, J. (2012). Major components of Spanish cultivated Artemisia absinthium populations: Antifeedant, antiparasitic, and antioxidant effects. Industrial Crops and Products, 37(1), 401-407.
  5. Amat, N., Upur, H., & Blažeković, B. (2010). In vivo hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium L. against chemically and immunologically induced liver injuries in mice. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 131(2), 478-484.
  6. Bora, K. S., & Sharma, A. (2011). The genus Artemisia: a comprehensive review. Pharmaceutical Biology, 49(1), 101-109.
  7. Joshi, R. K. (2013). Volatile composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium growing in Western Ghats region of North West Karnataka, India. Pharmaceutical biology, 51(7), 888-892.
  8. Caner, A., Döşkaya, M., Değirmenci, A., Can, H., Baykan, Ş., Üner, A., … & Gürüz, Y. (2008). Comparison of the effects of Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium growing in western Anatolia against trichinellosis (Trichinella spiralis) in rats. Experimental parasitology, 119(1), 173-179.
  9. Lee HG, Kim H, Oh WK. (2004). Tetramethoxy hydroxyflavone p-7F downregulates inflammatory mediators via the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1030:555–68.
  10. Canadanovic‐Brunet, J. M., Djilas, S. M., Cetkovic, G. S., & Tumbas, V. T. (2005). Free‐radical scavenging activity of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L) extracts. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 85(2), 265-272.
  11. Wake, G., Pickering, A., Lewis, R., Wilkins, R., & Perry, E. (2000). CNS acetylcholine receptor activity in European medicinal plants traditionally used to improve failing memory. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 69(2), 105-114.
  12. Lopes-Lutz, D., Alviano, D. S., Alviano, C. S., & Kolodziejczyk, P. P. (2008). Screening of chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Artemisia essential oils. Phytochemistry, 69(8), 1732-1738.
  13. Orav, A., Raal, A., Arak, E., Muurisepp, M., & Kailas, T. (2006, September). Composition of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium L. of different geographical origin. In Proceedings-estonian Academy of Sciences Chemistry (Vol. 55, No. 3, p. 155). TRUEKITUD OU.
  14. Shafi, G., Hasan, T. N., Syed, N. A., Al-Hazzani, A. A., Alshatwi, A. A., Jyothi, A., & Munshi, A. (2012). Artemisia absinthium (AA): a novel potential complementary and alternative medicine for breast cancer. Molecular biology reports, 39(7), 7373-7379.
  15. Culpeper, N. (1995). Culpeper’s complete herbal: A book of natural remedies for ancient ills. Wordsworth Editions.
  16. Battaglia, S. (2003). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (2nd ed.). Brisbane, Australia: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy. (Pg 325)
  17. Bone, K. (2003). A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: Herbal formulations for the individual patient. Edinburgh [u.a.: Churchill Livingstone. (Pg. 469-470).
  18. Yang, J., Huang, H., Zhu, Li-Jiang, & Chen, Y. (2013). Introduction to Chinese materia medica (3rd ed.). (Pg 217-220).
  19. Aberham, A., Cicek, S. S., Schneider, P., & Stuppner, H. (2010). Analysis of sesquiterpene lactones, lignans, and flavonoids in wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) using HPLC-mass spectrometry, reversed phase HPLC, and HPLC-solid phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58(20), 10817-10823. doi:10.1021/jf1022059