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.
How does Artemisia campestris work as a digestive aid?
Artemisia campestris works primarily as a carminative and bitter tonic. Its active compounds, including camphor and flavonoids, stimulate gastric secretions and help relax intestinal smooth muscle, which reduces spasms and relieves bloating. The bitter properties trigger the release of bile and digestive enzymes, facilitating the digestion of food. These mechanisms support its traditional use for digestive complaints, though clinical evidence remains limited (Evidence Level C).
Is Artemisia campestris safe to take during pregnancy?
No, Artemisia campestris is considered unsafe during pregnancy. The herb contains thujone and other volatile oils that may stimulate uterine contractions or cause fetal toxicity. Due to these emmenagogue properties and potential neurotoxicity, pregnant and breastfeeding women should strictly avoid this herb. Traditional contraindications explicitly list pregnancy as a condition to avoid use.
What is the recommended dosage for Artemisia campestris tea?
The standard adult dosage for Artemisia campestris is 2 to 4 grams of the dried herb prepared as an infusion (tea). This amount is typically taken up to three times daily to address digestive complaints. Users should not exceed this recommended dosage without consulting a qualified healthcare provider, as higher doses may increase the risk of adverse effects.
Does Artemisia campestris interact with any medications?
Artemisia campestris may interact with anticoagulant and anticonvulsant medications. The presence of flavonoids could potentiate the effects of blood thinners like warfarin, increasing bleeding risk. Additionally, the thujone content, though low, may lower the seizure threshold, potentially interfering with epilepsy medications. Patients taking these drugs should consult a physician before use (Evidence Level D).
What are the traditional uses of Artemisia campestris?
Traditionally, Artemisia campestris has been used in European and Asian folk medicine primarily as a digestive aid, carminative, and febrifuge. It is employed to relieve gas, bloating, and stomach cramps, as well as to reduce fever. The herb has also been utilized as an anthelmintic to expel intestinal parasites. These applications are supported by ethnobotanical history rather than extensive clinical trials (Evidence Level C).
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 campestris is a polymorphic species of the Asteraceae family recognized for its medicinal, pharmacological, and culinary properties [PMID:30551444]. It exhibits diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects [PMID:30551444, PMID:33932510].
Background
Artemisia campestris L. is a polymorphic species consisting of many subspecies and varieties, such as ssp. glutinosa and ssp. variabilis [PMID:30551444, PMID:17396957, PMID:36376619]. It is found in various regions including the Mediterranean littoral sands of Spain and Italy, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria [PMID:17396957, PMID:37019158, PMID:38698384, PMID:39918166].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used in the Mediterranean region as a medicinal plant [PMID:32758575], specifically in eastern Morocco for treating digestive system problems [PMID:37019158] and in Portugal for gastric disorders, rheumatism, and hypertension [PMID:33932510]. It is also used for the treatment of diabetes and hypertension [PMID:28578165].
Active compounds
Bioactive compounds include flavonoids such as sakuranetin, pinostrobin, pinocembrin, naringenin, hispidulin, apigenin, chrysin, eupatilin, and cirsiliol [PMID:35844107, PMID:17396957, PMID:42223488, PMID:29208178]. Essential oils are dominated by compounds such as beta-pinene, 2-undecanone, caryophyllene oxide, and curcumene [PMID:30389026, PMID:21299136, PMID:38472862]. Other identified components include caffeoylquinic acid isomers, benzoic acid derivatives, chlorogenic acid, and rutin [PMID:32454719, PMID:35460338].
Mechanism of action
In acute myeloid leukemia cells, ethyl acetate extract induces apoptosis by increasing DNA fragmentation, causing mitochondrial depolarization, and activating caspases 3/7 [PMID:39037595]. Flavonoids like apigenin, chrysin, and sakuranetin are suggested as potential FLT3 inhibitors [PMID:42223488]. The plant's essential oil may act via the muscarinic receptor and L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel to produce myorelaxant and antispasmodic effects [PMID:37019158]. Ethanolic extracts may inhibit HIV-1 replication by acting on viral entry and the NF-κB pathway [PMID:32758575].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DAcute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Ethyl acetate extract induced cell apoptosis in mononuclear cells from AML patients [PMID:39037595]
Evidence DGastroesophageal Reflux (GER)
Aqueous extract (100-400 mg/kg) significantly protected against macroscopic and histological injuries in rat esophagus [PMID:29306510]
Evidence DHypertension
Aqueous extract demonstrated antihypertensive and hypotensive effects in rats [PMID:28578165]
Evidence DPolycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Oral administration of extract (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced LH levels in rats [PMID:39462196]
Evidence DObesity
n-butanol fraction of methanolic leaf extract reduced oxidative stress in the liver of high-fat diet rats [PMID:35460338]
Evidence DChlorpyrifos-induced organ injury
Essential oil alleviated biochemical disruptions and reduced hepato-renal morphologic changes in rats [PMID:33716767]
Safety & adverse effects
Toxicity tests using brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) assay showed LC50 values ranging to 20 microg/mL for some oils [PMID:21299136].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies, in silico modeling, and animal models (rats/mice), indicating a low overall clinical strength (Level D). No human clinical trials were provided.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 35844107 (2023) — Sakuranetin and its therapeutic potentials - a comprehensive review. · Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
4.PMID: 36575835 (2022) — Antioxidant Activity and Inhibition of Carbohydrate Digestive Enzymes Activities of Artemisia campestris L. · Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition)
5.PMID: 39037595 (2024) — Anticancer effects of Artemisia campestris extract on acute myeloid leukemia cells: an ex vivo study.
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.
Ethanolic extract inhibits HIV-1 replication in vitro [PMID:32758575]
Evidence DLeishmaniasis
Essential oils possess dose-dependent activity against Leishmania infantum promastigotes [PMID:27807464]
· Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)
6.PMID: 36376619 (2022) — Metabolic changes induced by Cuscuta campestris Yunck in the host species Artemisia campestris subsp. variabilis (Ten.) Greuter as a strategy for successful parasitisation. · Planta
7.PMID: 30389026 (2018) — Chemical analyses and anthelmintic effects of Artemisia campestris essential oil. · Veterinary parasitology
8.PMID: 27807464 (2016) — Asteraceae Artemisia campestris and Artemisia herba-alba Essential Oils Trigger Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Leishmania infantum Promastigotes. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
9.PMID: 42108667 (2026) — Phytochemical-Mediated Allelopathic Activity of Artemisia campestris on Germination and Growth of Oasis Weed Species. · Chemistry & biodiversity
10.PMID: 37019158 (2023) — Myorelaxant and antispasmodic effects of the essential oil of Artemisia campestris L., and the molecular docking of its major constituents with the muscarinic receptor and the L-type voltage-gated Ca2+channel. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
11.PMID: 38698384 (2024) — Tunisian Artemisia campestris L.: a potential therapeutic agent against myeloma - phytochemical and pharmacological insights. · Plant methods
12.PMID: 32758575 (2020) — Ethanolic extract of Artemisia campestris subsp. glutinosa (Besser) Batt. inhibits HIV-1 replication in vitro through the activity of terpenes and flavonoids on viral entry and NF-κB pathway. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
13.PMID: 29208178 (2017) — Bioactive flavones isolated from Tunisian Artemisia campestris L. Leaves. · Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
14.PMID: 38353049 (2024) — Synergistic effects of essential oils and phenolic extracts on antimicrobial activities using blends of Artemisia campestris, Artemisia herba alba, and Citrus aurantium. · Biomolecular concepts
15.PMID: 42223488 (2026) — Integrated computational evaluation of flavonoids from Artemisia campestris L. as FLT3 inhibitors: molecular docking, dynamics, ADMET, DFT, and topological (ELF, LOL) insights. · Journal of molecular modeling
16.PMID: 38472862 (2024) — Analysis of Bioactive Aroma Compounds in Essential Oils from Algerian Plants: Implications for Potential Antioxidant Applications. · Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
17.PMID: 30913669 (1983) — Antimicrobial Activity of Compounds from Artemisia campestris. · Journal of food protection
18.PMID: 33716767 (2021) — Antioxidant and Protective Effects of Artemisia campestris Essential Oil Against Chlorpyrifos-Induced Kidney and Liver Injuries in Rats. · Frontiers in physiology
19.PMID: 29306510 (2018) — Protective effects of Artemisia campestris extract against gastric acid reflux-induced esophageal mucosa injuries. · Pathophysiology : the official journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology
20.PMID: 21299136 (2010) — Caryophyllene oxide-rich essential oils of Lithuanian Artemisia campestris ssp. campestris and their toxicity. · Natural product communications
21.PMID: 32276465 (2020) — Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Anti-Tyrosinase, Anti-Cholinesterase and Cytotoxic Activities of Essential Oils of Six Algerian Plants. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
22.PMID: 33932510 (2021) — Chemical characterization and bioactive potential of Artemisia campestris L. subsp. maritima (DC) Arcang. essential oil and hydrodistillation residual water. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
23.PMID: 32454719 (2019) — Identification, Quantification, and Antioxidant Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Artemisia campestris from Algeria. · Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
24.PMID: 39462196 (2025) — Assessment of Artemisia Campestris L. Leaf Extract Effects on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Rats, Antioxidant and α-Amylase Inhibition Activities. · Chemistry & biodiversity
25.PMID: 39918166 (2025) — Therapeutic Potential of Artemisia campestris Essential Oil: Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anticancer Insights From In Silico Analysis. · Biomedical chromatography : BMC
26.PMID: 38015279 (2024) — Promising Algerian essential oils as natural acaricides against the honey bee mite Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae). · Experimental & applied acarology
27.PMID: 35460338 (2022) — Anti-obesity effects of the n-butanol fraction of the methanolic leaf extract of Artemisia campestris from Tunisian pharmacopeia in male Wistar rats. · Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
28.PMID: 28578165 (2017) — Antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of aqueous extract of Artemisia campestris L. from Eastern Morocco. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
29.PMID: 40390847 (2025) — Enhanced Antioxidant Properties in Functional Ice Cream Through Encapsulation of Pulsed Electric Field-Assisted Artemisia campestris Extract. · Food science & nutrition