Written by Klara Rombauts, Arne Heyerick and the CAM-Cancer Consortium.
Updated March 30, 2011

Artemisia annua

Abstract and key points

  • Artemisia annua is a plant containing chemical compounds considered to have anti-cancer activity.
  • There is currently insufficient scientific evidence in humans to support the use of Artemisia in cancer patients.
  • Artemisia is generally considered to be safe but some cases of severe adverse effects of higher doses have been reported.

Artemisia annua L., also known as sweet wormwood, sweet annie, sweet sagewort and annual wormwood (Chinese: qīnghāo), is a common type of wormwood that is native to temperate Asia, but naturalized throughout the world, and that belongs to the family of the Asteraceae.

Currently, Artemisia annua is the source for the production of artemisinin and semi-synthetic artemisinin derivatives (including dihydroartemisinin, artesunate, artemether and arteether) that are used for the production of combination therapies for treatment of malaria (ACTs = Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy).

Animal studies suggested that artemisinin and related compounds inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. However, there is no reliable evidence from clinical trials at the moment that effects from animal studies translate into benefits for cancer patients. Experiences from malaria treatment indicate a good tolerability of artemisinin-based drugs 1. However, there are two case reports with severe adverse effects if artemisinin-based drugs were used at higher doses.

Citation

Klara Rombauts, Arne Heyerick, CAM-Cancer Consortium. Artemisia annua [online document]. http://www.cam-cancer.org/CAM-Summaries/Herbal-products/Artemisia-annua. March 30, 2011.

Document history

Summary currently being updated.
Summary first published in March 2011, authored by Klara Rombauts and Arne Heyerick.

References

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