Biologically active substances from the genus Artemisia

Artemisia species, widespread in nature, are frequently utilized for the treatment of diseases such as malaria, hepatitis, cancer, inflammation, and infections by fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Furthermore, some Artemisia constituents were found to be potential insecticides and allelopathic chemicals. This genus is receiving growing attention presumably due to: (i) the diversified biology and chemistry of the constituents, (ii) the frequent application in traditional medical practice, and (iii) the rich source of the plant material. This review summarizes mainly the biological results obtained in the past decade. The significance and trends in this field are briefly discussed.