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 · Bioprospecting <i>Artemisia roxburghiana</i> Wall. ex Besser extracts for their potential antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antidiabetic and anticancer potential. (2025)
PubMed · A new guaianolide from Artemisia roxburghiana. (2013)
Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals
Artemisia roxburghiana contains bioactive compounds including camphor, terpineol, thujone, and flavonoids that contribute to its medicinal effects. The volatile oils act as carminatives, helping to relax digestive smooth muscle and reduce gas and bloating. The flavonoids and terpenoids demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity by modulating inflammatory pathways. Thujone and other constituents may also provide respiratory benefits through bronchodilatory and antimicrobial effects. Evidence level: C (preliminary studies and traditional use).
Does Artemisia roxburghiana interact with any medications?
Artemisia roxburghiana may interact with several medication classes due to its thujone content and effects on liver metabolism. It may potentially interact with anticonvulsant medications, as thujone can lower seizure threshold. Those taking CNS depressants, blood thinners, or medications metabolized by liver enzymes should exercise caution. Limited clinical data exists on specific drug interactions. Patients taking prescription medications should consult a healthcare provider before using this herb. Evidence level: C.
What is the recommended dosage of Artemisia roxburghiana?
The traditional adult dosage for Artemisia roxburghiana is 2-4 grams of dried herb prepared as a tea, taken up to three times daily for digestive or respiratory complaints. This dosage is based on Himalayan folk medicine traditions rather than clinical trials. Liquid extracts and tinctures may have different concentration-based dosing. Always follow product label instructions or consult a qualified herbalist, as individual needs may vary. Evidence level: Traditional/C.
Is Artemisia roxburghiana safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Artemisia roxburghiana is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The herb contains thujone, a compound that can stimulate uterine contractions and potentially cause miscarriage or premature labor. Thujone may also be neurotoxic to developing fetuses and infants. Women who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding should avoid this herb entirely. Additionally, individuals with epilepsy should not use this herb due to thujone's potential to lower seizure threshold. Evidence level: C.
What is Artemisia roxburghiana used for in traditional medicine?
Artemisia roxburghiana has been used traditionally in Himalayan folk medicine primarily for digestive and respiratory conditions. As a carminative, it helps relieve gas, bloating, and indigestion. Traditional uses include treating coughs, bronchitis, and other respiratory complaints. The herb also has anti-inflammatory properties that may support its traditional applications. These uses are based on ethnobotanical knowledge and preliminary research rather than large-scale clinical trials. Evidence level: C/Traditional.
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 13 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Artemisia roxburghiana is a medicinal herb found in high-altitude regions of the Himalayas and other areas, traditionally used to treat diabetes and various infections [PMID:39665106, 40024454].
Background
Artemisia roxburghiana is a herbaceous plant that serves as a dominant genus in the alpine ecosystems of the cold desert region in the Western Himalayas, specifically the Nelang Valley [PMID:39665106]. It is also found in Vietnam and northern Punjab, Pakistan [PMID:23432134, 26691254].
Traditional uses
In the Himalayan region, it is used as a remedy for fever, diabetes, malaria, dysentery, rheumatism, and viral hepatitis [PMID:40024454]. It is also used in the Indian subcontinent for the management of diabetes mellitus [PMID:33331175].
Active compounds
The plant contains terpenoids, glycosides, tannins, saponins [PMID:41404792], and artemisinins [PMID:41404792]. Specific isolated compounds include betulinic acid, betulin, taraxeryl acetate [PMID:26118418], 11-epi-8α-hydroxyarborescin, (24R)- and (24S)-cycloart-25-en-3b,24-diols, palmitic acid, and 1-octacosanol [PMID:23432134]. It also exhibits high total phenol content (93.4 ± 0.53 µg GAE/mg) and total flavonoid content (23.22 ± 0.23 µg CE/mg) [PMID:41844424].
Mechanism of action
The herb exhibits antidiabetic activity by inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes [PMID:33331175]. Certain triterpene inhibitors (betulinic acid, betulin, and taraxeryl acetate) act as protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitors, interacting with Gly220, Cys215, Gly218, and Asp48 [PMID:26118418].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DDiabetes Mellitus
Aqueous-ethanol extract of aerial parts showed a significant glucose-lowering effect in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic Wistar rats at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg [PMID:33331175].
Evidence DGastrointestinal Nematodes
Methanolic extracts showed maximum anthelmintic activity at a concentration of 50 mg/ml in an in vitro egg hatch inhibition assay [PMID:26691254].
Evidence DMalaria/Protozoal Infections
Extracts demonstrated antimalarial activity (IC50=18.76 ± 1.80 µg/mL) and general antiprotozoal activity [PMID:41404792, 21527328].
Safety & adverse effects
Acute and sub-acute toxicity was evaluated in albino mice using aqueous leaf extract; however, the provided abstract does not list specific adverse findings, only the parameters assessed (body weight, hematological, and biochemical parameters) [PMID:40024454].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), demonstrating potential antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anthelmintic activities.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 39665106 (2024) — Floristic diversity and species composition along altitudinal gradient in the alpine ecosystem of the cold desert region in Western Himalaya, India. · Frontiers in plant science
2.PMID: 41404792 (2025) — Bioprospecting Artemisia roxburghiana Wall. ex Besser extracts for their potential antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antidiabetic and anticancer potential. · Natural product research
3.PMID: 26118418 (2016) — Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors isolated from Artemisia roxburghiana. · Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry
4.PMID: 23432134 (2013) — A new guaianolide from Artemisia roxburghiana. · Natural product research
5.PMID: 33331175 (2022) — Antidiabetic effect of aqueous-ethanol extract from the aerial parts of Artemisia roxburghiana.
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.
6.PMID: 21527328 (2011) — Antiprotozoal activities of traditional medicinal plants from the Garhwal region of North West Himalaya, India. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
7.PMID: 40024454 (2025) — Toxicological assessment of standardized Artemisia roxburghiana wall. ex Besser aqueous leaf extract to acute and subacute exposure in Albino mice. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
8.PMID: 26691254 (2015) — Anthelmintic properties of extracts from Artemisia plants against nematodes. · Tropical biomedicine
9.PMID: 41844424 (2026) — Synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles by the aerial part of Artemisia roxburghiana extract and assessment of their biological activities. · Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
10.PMID: 21047440 (2010) — Survey of artemisinin production by diverse Artemisia species in northern Pakistan. · Malaria journal
11.PMID: 36081821 (2022) — Formulation and evaluation of SGLT2 inhibitory effect of a polyherbal mixture inspired from Ayurvedic system of medicine. · Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
12.PMID: 19143344 (2008) — Restoration potential of pioneer plants growing on lead-zinc mine tailings in Lanping, southwest China. · Journal of environmental sciences (China)
13.PMID: 14750205 (2004) — The effect of medicinal plants of Islamabad and Murree region of Pakistan on insulin secretion from INS-1 cells. · Phytotherapy research : PTR