Artemisia Capillaris
Artemisia Capillaris is known as the Oriental Wormwood which is a type of perennial shrub.
This shrub can grow upwards of 50 cm and grows typically in temperate climates. You can find this shrub more commonly in China, Korea, and Japan. It is known as a traditional chinese medicinal herb and is said to have two different names which is dependent on what time of the year it is harvested.
If the herb is harvested in the autumn is known as the Yin Chen Hao, and if it is harvested in the summer it is known as Mian Yin Chen.
Benefits of Artemisia Capillaris
Anti-fibrotic Effects -In this study, the anti-hepatofibrotic effects of Artemisia capillaris and Artemisia iwayomogi were comparatively analyzed using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis rat model. Hepatic fibrosis was induced via a 10-week course of intraperitoneal CCl4 injections (50% dissolved in olive oil, 2 mL/kg, twice per week).
Results show that AI exerts greater hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic effects as compared with AC via enhancing antioxidant capacity and downregulating fibrogentic cytokines.
Anti-Alzheimer’s -In this study the anti-Alzheimer’s disease (anti-AD) activity of natural coumarins were isolated from Angelica decursiva and Artemisia capillaris, along with one purchased coumarin (daphnetin).
Taken together, our results suggest that umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid, esculetin and daphnetin have anti-AD effects by inhibiting AChE, BChE and BACE1, which might be useful against AD.
Neuroprotective – Artemisia capillaris Thunberg is a medicinal plant used as a traditional medicine in many cultures. It is an effective remedy for liver problems including hepatitis.
In the present study, they investigated the effect of an ethanol extract of AC on ischemic brain injury in a mouse model of transient forebrain ischemia. The mice were treated with AC for seven days, beginning one day before induction of transient forebrain ischemia. Behavioral deficits were investigated using the Y-maze.
The effect of AC on forebrain ischemia was blocked by mecamylamine, a nonselective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. Our results suggested that in a model of forebrain ischemia, AC protected against neuronal death through the activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Anti-Hepatitis – In this study they explored the activities of Composite Artemisia Capillaris Tablet (CACT) against hepatitis B virus replication in vitro. The HBV DNA quantities in culture medium and in 2.2.15 cells decreased as compared with those cells with no treatment by CACT given to them. CACT could inhibit HBV DNA replication, showing its potential antiviral activity in hepatitis B treatment.
Antibacterial – In this interesting study they were able to create synthesis of silver nanoparticles that uses extracts from the aerial part of Artemisia capillaris. Both water and 70% ethanol extracts successfully generated silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance bands, Fourier transform-infrared spectra, high resolution-transmission electron and atomic force microscopic images. Various shapes of silver nanoparticles were generated with an average diameter of 29.71 nm with water extract and 29.62 nm with 70% ethanol extract.
This report suggests that plant extracts have the potential to be used as powerful reducing agents for the production of biocompatible silver nanoparticles possessing enhanced antibacterial activities.
Apoptosis – Artemisia capillaris has been used in traditional Korean medicine for its variety of pharmacological activities. Previous studies have suggested that the essential oil of A. capillaris has chemopreventive potential, even though the mechanism of its action is unclear.
This study examined whether or not the essential oil isolated from A. capillaris induces apoptosis in the human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells along with the possible mechanism(s) of the essential oil‐mediated cytotoxicity.
They believe that the essential oil of A. capillaris induces apoptosis in human oral cancer cells and that it might be a good resource for searching new drugs, especially anticancer drugs.
