ABSTRACT
The origin of the name Artemisia can be traced back from the ancient Greek word “Artemis” which means goddess, and “absinthium” which relates to unenjoyable or without sweetness. Artemisia species are also profuse in volatile phyto-constituents, which constitute a fountain of treasured pharmacologically active compounds. The most common essential oils (EO) emanating from the genus include cadinene, phellandrene, pinene, thuiyl alcohol, and thujone. Given the profuse number of members in the Artemisia genus and the panoply of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites they biosynthesize, it is worth highlighting in single documentation the ethno-pharmacological, phytochemical, and therapeutic potential of the most affluent species. EOs are secondary metabolites which are important as a part of plants’ defence mechanism, thus having various medicinal properties in addition to antimicrobial properties. This chapter aims to provide a brief overview of factors influencing the yield and composition of Artemisia EOs. Medicinal preparations from the EO of A. abrotanum are useful against allergic rhinitis and other respiratory complications.
