Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium from Croatia and France

Planta Med. 2003 Feb;69(2):158-61. doi: 10.1055/s-2003-37714.

Abstract

The essential oils obtained by steam distillation from the aerial parts of two populations of Artemisia absinthium, from France and from Croatia, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The oils of A. absinthium of French origin contain (Z)-epoxyocimene and chrysanthenyl acetate as major components while the oils of Croatian A. absinthium contain mainly (Z)-epoxyocimene and beta-thujone. Analysis of oils before and after anthesis showed some quantitative differences. Analysis of separated leaves and flowering heads showed only few differences among these organs. As they contain no thujone, antimicrobial screening was performed on samples of French origin and showed that A. absinthium oil inhibited the growth of both tested yeasts (Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. chevalieri).

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Artemisia absinthium*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Croatia
  • Flowering Tops
  • France
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Humans
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Leaves
  • Plant Oils / administration & dosage
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Plant Oils / therapeutic use
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Plant Oils