Artemisia vulgaris
പച്ചകർപൂരം /കർപ്പൂരതുളസി
Scientific Name: Artemisia vulgaris
Artemisia vulgaris is a tall herbaceous perennial plant growing 1–2 m (rarely 2.5 m) tall, with an extensive rhizome system. Rather than depending on seed dispersal, Artemisia vulgaris spreads through vegetative expansion and the anthropogenic dispersal of root rhizome fragments. The leaves are 5–20 cm long, dark green, pinnate and sessile, with dense white tomentose hairs on the underside. The erect stems are grooved and often have a red-purplish tinge. The rather small florets (5 mm long) are radially symmetrical with many yellow or dark red petals. The narrow and numerous capitula (flower heads), all fertile, spread out in racemose panicles. It flowers from mid-summer to early autumn.
A number of species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) such as Ostrinia scapulalis feed on the leaves and flowers of the plant.
Description
Shrubs, to 1.5-2.5 m tall. Leaves opposite, variable in size and shape, broadly ovate, elliptic or oblanceolate, entire, acute or shortly acuminate at apex, acute or cuneate at base, to 12 x 6 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, shining green above, paler beneath; lateral nerves 5-8 pairs, faint above, raised below, without domatia; petiole 1-3 mm, glabrous; stipules ovate, shortly acuminate at tip, 1.5-2 mm long, glabrous outside and with colleters at base within. Inflorescence 1-5 flowered, mostly on terminal, less commonly on axillary brachyblasts. Flowers white, fragrant, the central flower in 3-5 flowered inflorescence usually ebracteate and ebracteolate, others with one pair of bracts and a pair of closely set bracteoles; bracts ovate-cuspidate, to 1-1.6 mm long, glabrous outside and with colleters at base within; bracteoles lanceolate, to 2 mm long, sometimes developing into leaves. Calyx cup-shaped, to 1.2 mm long, glabrous, much shorter than the disc, limb subentire. Corolla glabrous, tube cylindric, 10-18 mm long, lobes 5, elliptic-obtuse, 8-12 x 3-7 mm. Stamens 5, inserted below the throat; anthers sessile, 5-7 mm long, tips exserted. Ovary stipitate, style 1.2 mm, glabrous; stigma 2-lobed, lobes acute, 1-1.4 mm. Fruits blue-black when ripe, depressed globose, didymous, 14 x 20 mm; seeds dark, ellipsoid, 5-7 x 4-5 mm, with a prominent ventral groove.
Artemisia vulgaris is one of the important medicinal plant species of the genus Artemisia, which is usually known for its volatile oils. The genus Artemisia has become the subject of great interest due to its chemical and biological diversity as well as the discovery and isolation of promising anti-malarial drug artemisinin. A. vulgaris has a long history in treatment of human ailments by medicinal plants in various parts of the world. This medicinal plant possesses a broad spectrum of therapeutic properties including: anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-oxidant, anti-tumoral, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, anti-spasmodic and anti-septic. These activities are mainly attributed to the presence of various classes of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, coumarins, acetylenes, phenolic acids, organic acids, mono- and sesquiterpenes. Studies related to A. vulgaris morphology, anatomy and phytochemistry has gained a significant interest for better understanding of production and accumulation of therapeutic compounds in this species. Recently, phytochemical and pharmacological investigations have corroborated the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds of A. vulgaris.