Artemisia annua also known as sweet wormwood, sweet annie, sweet sagewort, annual mugwort or annual wormwood, is a common type of wormwood native to temperate Asia, but naturalized in many countries including scattered parts of North America. Artemisia annua is a small herbaceous plant that has always been widely used for its antimicrobial, antimalarial and antioxidant properties and which, in recent years, has proved to be very useful as an adjuvant in anticancer therapies. It would be able to destroy 98% of the cancer cells in a very few hours.
The constituent element Thujone in this herbal supplement is being studied as an antioxidant. The Artemisinin extract from the herb also has restorative properties for febrile conditions and is used to boost immune system support. Artemisia annua is also used in traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine for reproductive system disorders.
It has been renamed “magic herb” because of its alleged “power”. To support the effectiveness of treatments based on this herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine, are mainly some doctors of the University of California who, have conducted studies that “show that artemisin stops the transcription factor ‘E2F1’ and intervenes in the destruction of lung cancer cells, which means that it controls the growth and reproduction of cancer cells.
The phytochemical composition of Artemisia annua has been reviewed in great detail by Bhakuni et al. The most relevant compounds are sesquiterpenoids (ex. artemisinin), triterpenoids, flavonoids (polymethoxylated flavonoids), chromenes1 and essential oil components.
What is Artemisinin used for?
Cancer treatment
Fever
Headaches
Infections
Infertility
Inflammation
Malaria
Studies suggest that Artemisinin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of Leishmani donovani promastigotes. It has antiproliferative effects on medullary thyroid carcinoma cells, and induces apoptosis in a lung cancer cells. In another study, it significantly inhibited cell growth and proliferation.
The information presented here is for informational, reference and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a health care professional. Although, the information presented herein is based on material provided by researchers and sources deemed reliable, we do not presume to give medical advice.
The Art of Healing 