Two thujone free Spanish populations of Artemisia absinthium from Teruel
and Sierra Nevada (Spain) were submitted to a domestication process. The
domestication resulted in lower chemical variation and higher biomass and essential oil
yields, allowing for the registry of a new domesticated variety (® Candial). The main
components of the new variety essential oil extracts were cis-epoxyocimene,
chrysanthenol, chrysanthenyl acetate, trans-caryophyllene and linalool. The presence
of 1.8-cineol and camphor correlated with the domestication level of A. absinthium.
CO2 supercritical fluid extraction, improved the yield of (Z)-epoxyocimene,
chrysanthenol, (5Z)-2,6-dimethylocta-5,7-diene-2,3-diol and trans-chrysanthenyl
acetate. The development of extraction processes with supercritical CO2 allowed for the
enrichment of desired bioactive compounds in A. absinthium extracts. The superctitical
extracts showed strong antifeedant and insecticidal effects against Spodoptera
littoralis, indicating that for insect control purposes supercritical CO2 extraction should
be used. The semi-industrial vapor-pressure extracts (VPs) showed strong antifungal
effects. (-)-cis-chrysanthenol has been identified as the chemical indicator of the
antifungal quality of VP extracts from A. absinthium (® Candial). These VP extracts
also showed a high nematocidal activity against animal parasitic nematode Trichinella
spiralis without being cytotoxic to macrophage cells. These oils showed activity on the
protozoan parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Trichomonas vaginalis. The antiprotozoal
activity of the VP oil was related with the presence of trans-caryophyllene and
dihydrochamazulene. EOs from cultivated A. absinthium could be considered as
potential candidates for development of new antifungal and insect antifeedant agents,
as well as drugs against helminth and protozoan parasites.
Keywords: Antifungal, Artemisia absinthium, Chrysanthenyl acetate, (-)-Cis-
Chrysanthenol, Cis-epoxyocimene, Dihydrochamazulene, Domestication process,
Insect antifeedant, Linalool, Supercritical CO2, Trans-caryophyllene, Trichinella
spiralis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Trypanosoma cruzi.
