ABSTRACT
The genus Artemisia is a member of the large and evolutionary advanced plant family Asteraceae (Compositae). More than 300 different species comprise this diverse genus which is mainly found in arid and semi-arid areas of Europe, America, North Africa as well as in Asia (Heywood and Humphries, 1977). Artemisia species are widely used as medicinal plants in folk medicine. Some species such as A. absinthium, A. annua or A. vulgaris have even been incorporated into the pharmacopoeias of several European and Asian countries (Proksch, 1992).
