Artemisia annua

Artemisia annua - a plant with an international reputation
Few plants have attracted as much international attention as Artemisia annua - known in this country as annual mugwort. It gained worldwide attention and brought its successful control of multi-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria pathogen, into focus. Artemisinin has since been patented and is considered one of the most effective antimalarial drugs available.

In use in China for 2000 years
But annual mugwort can do much more than "just" stand up to malaria. In traditional Chinese medicine, the plant has been known for over 2000 years and is mainly used to strengthen the immune system. The Chinese reach for Artemisia for fever, infections and inflammations, but also for food intolerances, digestive problems or worm infestations.

Hundreds of active ingredients contained
In addition to the secondary plant substance from the terpene group - the world-famous artemisinin - 245 different active substances have been isolated and proven to date from the aromatic-smelling plant. Experts, however, assume that there are more than 600 biologically active ingredients. Essential oils such as eucalyptus oil and menthol, alpha and beta-pinene, camphor, limonene, flavonoids and essential fatty acids are relevant to health.