Botanical Overview
Artemisia indica is a species in the Asteraceae family. The daisy family (Asteraceae) is one of the largest plant families, characterized by composite flower heads (capitula) that contain many small florets surrounded by bracts. Plants range from tiny alpine herbs to large tropical trees. The family includes many medicinally important species with bitter compounds and essential oils. Phytochemical data for this species are limited at present.
General Description
It is native to the Indian Subcontinent (except Bangladesh), mainland Southeast Asia, China (except Xinjiang and Qinghai), Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, the Ryukyu Islands, and Japan, and it has been introduced to Peninsular Malaysia. In the wild it is typically found alongside roads, on slopes, in forest edges, and in scrublands at elevations below 2,000 m (6,600 ft).
Family Context
The Asteraceae family is extremely large and diverse. Notable medicinal members include:
- Yarrow — 63 documented uses
- Gobo — 63 documented uses
- Mugwort — 55 documented uses
- Sunflower — 52 documented uses
Geographic Distribution
Artemisia indica has been recorded in 10 countries and territories worldwide, including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, North Korea, and others.
Active Compounds
Phytochemical research has identified 4 compounds in this species, including a diverse array of phytochemical classes (see the Complete Chemical Inventory below for the full list).
The identified compounds include the following categories:
- Flavonoid: antioxidant compounds that protect cells from oxidative damage
Research Status
Although this species has documented phytochemical constituents, its ethnobotanical and clinical documentation remains incomplete. The limited documentation available for this species represents an opportunity for ethnobotanical research.