This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
PubMed · Artemisia afra, a controversial herbal remedy or a treasure trove of new drugs? (2019)
PubMed · Secondary Metabolites Isolated from <i>Artemisia afra</i> and <i>Artemisia annua</i> and Their Anti-Malarial, Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulating Properties-Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: A Review. (2023)
Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals
How does Artemisia afra work for respiratory infections?
Artemisia afra contains volatile oils including 1,8-cineole, camphor, and borneol, which demonstrate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. 1,8-cineole acts as an expectorant and bronchodilator, helping to clear mucus from airways. The plant also contains alpha-thujone and artemisia ketone, though these compounds require caution due to potential neurotoxicity. Evidence for the specific mechanism is limited (Evidence Level C), derived primarily from traditional use and in vitro studies rather than clinical trials.
Does Artemisia afra interact with any medications?
Artemisia afra may interact with medications metabolized by the liver due to its thujone content, which can affect cytochrome P450 enzymes. Caution is advised when taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications, as the herb may increase bleeding risk. Those on diabetes medications should monitor blood glucose levels closely. Due to limited clinical interaction data (Evidence Level C), patients taking prescription medications should consult a qualified healthcare provider before using Artemisia afra preparations.
What is the recommended dosage of Artemisia afra for adults?
The typical adult dosage is 3-6 grams of dried herb daily, or 2-4ml of tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol) taken in divided doses. The dried herb can be prepared as an infusion by steeping in boiling water for 10-15 minutes. Evidence for optimal dosing is limited (Evidence Level C), based primarily on traditional use patterns across Southern African communities. Always follow product-specific recommendations and do not exceed recommended durations of use.
Is Artemisia afra safe during pregnancy?
Artemisia afra is unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The herb contains thujone and other constituents that stimulate uterine contractions, potentially causing miscarriage or premature labor. Traditional use has explicitly excluded pregnant women for this reason. Women who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding should avoid all Artemisia afra preparations. This contraindication is well-documented in ethnobotanical literature, though formal clinical safety data remains limited (Evidence Level C).
What are the side effects of Artemisia afra?
Common side effects include gastrointestinal upset, nausea, and vomiting, particularly at higher doses. The thujone content can cause neurological effects including dizziness, headaches, and in susceptible individuals, seizures. For this reason, Artemisia afra is contraindicated in people with epilepsy or seizure disorders. Prolonged or excessive use should be avoided. Evidence regarding adverse effects is based on traditional knowledge and pharmacological understanding of constituents (Evidence Level C), with limited clinical trial data available.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Artemisia afra, also known as African wormwood, is a highly aromatic shrub widely used in southern Africa for treating respiratory disorders, fever, and malaria [PMID:31376515, PMID:38944359].
Background
Artemisia afra (Asteraceae family) is an indigenous medicinal plant native to South Africa and neighboring countries such as Eswatini and Lesotho [PMID:31376515, PMID:38674538].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used in southern Africa to treat coughs, colds, influenza, malaria, fever, and respiratory ailments [PMID:31376515, PMID:38944359, PMID:36464634]. It is also documented for use in the management of headaches [PMID:34685845].
Active compounds
The plant contains monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, polyphenols [PMID:37233654], and flavonoids such as luteolin [PMID:23920249], acacetin, chrysoeriol, and rutin [PMID:33039496]. Other isolated compounds include 3β-taraxerol, 3β-taraxerol acetate, dodecyl-p-coumarate, ferulic acid, scopoletin, sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 3,5-di-O-feruloylquinic acid, and isofraxidin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside [PMID:37836110]. It contains only trace or negligible amounts of artemisinin [PMID:38761524, PMID:30668322].
Mechanism of action
In vitro studies suggest it may impede SARS-CoV-2 adsorption to host cells and prevent viral multiplication post-entry, while also exerting immunomodulatory effects by controlling cytokine release [PMID:35894129]. It has shown the ability to kill non-replicating hypoxic Mycobacterium tuberculosis via a methoxylated flavone [PMID:38944359]. Antiplasmodial effects appear to be artemisinin-independent and involve the parasite apicoplast and mitochondrion [PMID:34857648].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DTuberculosis
Dichloromethane extracts exhibit significant bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including under hypoxic conditions and various carbon sources [PMID:36839499, PMID:32730878].
Evidence DMalaria
In vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum is reported, but a large-scale clinical trial claiming efficacy was retracted due to ethical and methodological concerns [PMID:38761524, PMID:30668322].
Evidence DSARS-CoV-2
Extracts inhibited SARS-CoV-2 and feline coronavirus infection in vitro at non-cytotoxic concentrations [PMID:34496903].
Evidence DRespiratory Function
Steam inhalation and nebulized extracts produced dose-dependent improvements in lung function in isolated perfused lungs [PMID:23920249].
Evidence DGastrointestinal Spasms
Leaf ethanol extracts significantly reduced spontaneous rhythmic and agonist-induced contractions in isolated mouse duodenum and guinea pig ileum [PMID:18326347].
Evidence B
Dosage & administration
Traditionally used as an infusion, decoction, or steam inhalation [PMID:36464634, PMID:23920249]. No PubMed data available. Consult a healthcare provider.
Evidence summary
The majority of evidence is based on in vitro studies, animal models, or retracted clinical trials, indicating a low overall strength of clinical evidence for the treatment of malaria and schistosomiasis, while showing promising bactericidal activity against M. tuberculosis in laboratory settings.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 31376515 (2019) — Artemisia afra, a controversial herbal remedy or a treasure trove of new drugs? · Journal of ethnopharmacology
2.PMID: 38944359 (2024) — An O-methylflavone from Artemisia afra kills non-replicating hypoxic Mycobacterium tuberculosis. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
3.PMID: 37233654 (2023) — Secondary Metabolites Isolated from Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua and Their Anti-Malarial, Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulating Properties-Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: A Review. · Metabolites
4.PMID: 38761524 (2024) — In vivo antimalarial efficacy of Artemisia afra powder suspensions. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5.PMID: 32730878 (2020) — Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra extracts exhibit strong bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
A clinical trial reported that A. afra infusions resulted in no detectable eggs in fecal smears within 14 days, though the publication was retracted [PMID:30466622].
· Journal of ethnopharmacology
6.PMID: 37836110 (2023) — Extractives from Artemisia afra with Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal Properties. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
7.PMID: 35894129 (2022) — Antiviral activity of medicinal plant-derived products against SARS-CoV-2. · Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
8.PMID: 37873198 (2023) — A methoxylated flavone from Artemisia afra kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis. · bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
9.PMID: 36839499 (2023) — Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua Extracts Have Bactericidal Activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Physiologically Relevant Carbon Sources and Hypoxia. · Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
10.PMID: 30668322 (2019) — Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra tea infusions vs. artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) in treating Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a large scale, double blind, randomized clinical trial. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
11.PMID: 33039496 (2020) — Chemotypic variation of non-volatile constituents of Artemisia afra (African wormwood) from South Africa. · Fitoterapia
12.PMID: 36464634 (2023) — Geographical and seasonal phytochemical variation of Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd. · Phytochemical analysis : PCA
13.PMID: 34496903 (2021) — In vitro efficacy of Artemisia extracts against SARS-CoV-2. · Virology journal
14.PMID: 30466622 (2018) — Effect of Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra tea infusions on schistosomiasis in a large clinical trial. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
15.PMID: 34685845 (2021) — A Review on Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Headache in Africa. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
16.PMID: 40350417 (2025) — Assessment of the in vitro activity and selectivity of Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua aqueous extracts against artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. · Malaria journal
17.PMID: 38674538 (2024) — Comparative Bioactive Compounds and Mineral Properties of South African and Lesotho Artemisia afra (Jacq.) Genotypes. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
18.PMID: 33911989 (2019) — It is not just artemisinin: Artemisia sp. for treating diseases including malaria and schistosomiasis. · Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
19.PMID: 23920249 (2013) — Pulmonary effects and disposition of luteolin and Artemisia afra extracts in isolated perfused lungs. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
20.PMID: 29155274 (2018) — Polysaccharides from the South African medicinal plant Artemisia afra: Structure and activity studies. · Fitoterapia
21.PMID: 20079415 (2010) — Metabolomic investigation of the ethnopharmacological use of Artemisia afra with NMR spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
22.PMID: 37444156 (2023) — Knowledge about Asymptomatic Malaria and Acceptability of Using Artemisia afra Tea among Health Care Workers (HCWs) in Yaoundé, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Survey. · International journal of environmental research and public health
23.PMID: 34857648 (2022) — Artemisinin-independent inhibitory activity of Artemisia sp. infusions against different Plasmodium stages including relapse-causing hypnozoites. · Life science alliance
24.PMID: 11268106 (2001) — The antioxidant activity of the essential oils of Artemisia afra, Artemisia abyssinica and Juniperus procera. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
25.PMID: 39942700 (2025) — Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra from Different Geographical Locations in Cameroon. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
26.PMID: 18326347 (2007) — Spasmolytic effects of artemisia afra and artemisia rehan in tissue preparations. · Ethiopian medical journal