Artemisia ludoviciana (Artemisia ludoviciana – family Asteraceae)

Description

Artemisia ludoviciana is a perennial herbaceous species belonging to the botanical family Asteraceae, well known for its silvery-grey foliage and compact, clump-forming habit. The plant develops erect to slightly arching stems, typically reaching 60–100 cm in height, often densely covered with fine hairs.
The leaves are alternate, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, with entire or slightly lobed margins. Their velvety surface, caused by dense pubescence, reduces transpiration and gives the plant its characteristic grey–silver appearance. The inflorescences consist of small, inconspicuous, globular flower heads arranged in terminal panicles; the flowers are generally yellowish-green and not showy.

Distribution, ecology and cultivation aspects
Artemisia ludoviciana is native to North America, where it occurs across a wide range of habitats, from dry prairies to hillsides and montane environments. Ecologically, the species is characterised by:

• High adaptability to poor, sandy or gravelly soils;

• Strong drought tolerance, supported by leaf pubescence and a well-developed root system;

• Preference for full sun or lightly exposed sites;

• Good cold resistance in temperate climates.

In cultivation, it is considered a hardy, low-maintenance plant, valued both for ornamental purposes and for use in ecological restoration. Propagation is easily achieved by clump division, cuttings or via underground rhizomes, which also explain its tendency to spread laterally.

Chemical composition and functional characteristics
Like many species of the genus Artemisia, A. ludoviciana is characterised by a complex profile of secondary metabolites, including:

• Essential oils with variable terpene composition;

• Sesquiterpene lactones, typical of the genus;

• Flavonoids and other phenolic compounds;

• Tannins and bitter substances.

The phytochemical profile varies depending on ecotype, environmental conditions, developmental stage and the plant parts used (leaves and flowering tops).

Traditional uses and applications
In North American ethnobotanical traditions, Artemisia ludoviciana has been used as an aromatic and functional plant, mainly in the form of infusions, decoctions or external applications. Traditionally, it has been associated with:

• Use as an aromatic and bitter herb;

• Application in ritual or fumigatory practices;

• Popular use related to digestive comfort and topical preparations.

In modern contexts, the species is of interest for phytochemical research and is widely appreciated as an ornamental plant, especially in low-water-use gardens.

Quality assessment of plant material
Quality evaluation of the harvested plant material (leaves and flowering tops) is based on:

• Uniform silvery colour, indicating correct harvesting and drying;

• Characteristic aroma, free from off-odours;

• Absence of contaminants (soil residues, foreign matter, moulds);

• Residual moisture content compatible with good shelf stability;

• Botanical purity, ensuring correct species identification.

Harvesting during the appropriate balsamic period and careful drying in shaded, well-ventilated conditions are essential to preserve chemical and sensory properties.

Ecological and ornamental value
Beyond its traditional and functional aspects, Artemisia ludoviciana plays an important role as an ornamental and landscape plant, valued for its decorative foliage, stress tolerance and suitability for dry, naturalistic and Mediterranean-style gardens. It also contributes to plant biodiversity and soil stabilisation in marginal or degraded environments.

Classification

Plant and raw material characteristics

Indicative nutritional values

Not applicable for food use.
Artemisia ludoviciana is not a food and is not used for caloric or nutritional intake. Its relevance is botanical and traditional, not dietary.

Note on use and bioactive compounds present

The aerial parts of Artemisia ludoviciana contain essential oils and sesquiterpene lactones characteristic of the Artemisia genus, along with flavonoids and phenolic compounds. These substances underpin the traditional ethnobotanical interest in the plant. Its use does not fall within normal dietary consumption and should be considered only within specialized and regulated contexts.

References________________________________________________________________________

Kamarauskaite J, Baniene R, Raudone L, Vilkickyte G, Vainoriene R, Motiekaityte V, Trumbeckaite S. Antioxidant and Mitochondria-Targeted Activity of Caffeoylquinic-Acid-Rich Fractions of Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) and Silver Wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.). Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Sep 1;10(9):1405. doi: 10.3390/antiox10091405.

Abstract. Caffeoylquinic acids are some of the chemophenetically significant specialized metabolites found in plants of the family Asteraceae Dumort., possessing a broad spectrum of biological activities. As they might be potential mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, effective preparation methods-including extraction, isolation, and purification of caffeoylquinic acids from plant sources-are in great demand. The aim of this study was to fractionate the caffeoylquinic acids from cultivated wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) and silver wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.) herb acetone extracts and evaluate their phytochemical profiles, antioxidant activity (radical scavenging and reducing activities), effects on kidney mitochondrial functions, and cytochrome-c-reducing properties. The main findings of our study are as follows: (1) Aqueous fractions purified from wormwood and silver wormwood herb acetone extracts are rich in monocaffeoylquinic acids (chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid), while methanolic fractions purified from wormwood and silver wormwood herb acetone extracts are rich in dicaffeoylquinic acids (4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid). Aqueous fractions purified from wormwood and silver wormwood herb acetone extracts were solely composed of monocaffeoylquinic acids. Methanolic fractions purified from wormwood and silver wormwood herb acetone extracts contained only dicaffeoylquinic acids. (2) Fractions purified from silver wormwood herb acetone extracts stood out as having the greatest content of caffeoylquinic acids. (3) The greatest radical scavenging activity was determined in the dicaffeoylquinic-acid-rich fraction purified from silver wormwood herb acetone extract; the greatest reducing activity was determined in the dicaffeoylquinic-acid-rich fraction purified from wormwood herb acetone extract. (4) The effect of both fractions on mitochondrial functions was dose-dependent; lower concentrations of caffeoylquinic-acid-rich fractions had no effect on mitochondrial functions, whereas higher concentrations of caffeoylquinic-acid-rich fractions reduced the state 3 respiration rate (with the complex-I-dependent substrate glutamate/malate). (5) Both monocaffeoylquinic- and dicaffeoylquinic-acid-rich fractions possessed cytochrome-c-reducing properties; the greatest cytochrome c reduction properties were determined in the dicaffeoylquinic-acid-rich fraction purified from wormwood herb acetone extract. In summary, these findings show that caffeoylquinic acids might be beneficial as promising antioxidant and cytochrome-c-reducing agents for the modulation of mitochondria and treatment of various mitochondrial-pathway-associated pathologies.

Swor K, Poudel A, Satyal P, Setzer WN. The Essential Oil Compositions of Ambrosia acanthicarpa Hook., Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt., and Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby (Asteraceae) from the Owyhee Mountains of Idaho. Molecules. 2024 Mar 20;29(6):1383. doi: 10.3390/molecules29061383.

Abstract. As part of our interest in the volatile phytoconstituents of aromatic plants of the Great Basin, we have obtained essential oils of Ambrosia acanthicarpa (three samples), Artemisia ludoviciana (12 samples), and Gutierrezia sarothrae (six samples) from the Owyhee Mountains of southwestern Idaho. Gas chromatographic analyses (GC-MS, GC-FID, and chiral GC-MS) were carried out on each essential oil sample. The essential oils of A. acanthicarpa were dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons, including α-pinene (36.7-45.1%), myrcene (21.6-25.5%), and β-phellandrene (4.9-7.0%). Monoterpene hydrocarbons also dominated the essential oils of G. sarothrae, with β-pinene (0.5-18.4%), α-phellandrene (2.2-11.8%), limonene (1.4-25.4%), and (Z)-β-ocimene (18.8-39.4%) as major components. The essential oils of A. ludoviciana showed wide variation in composition, but the relatively abundant compounds were camphor (0.1-61.9%, average 14.1%), 1,8-cineole (0.1-50.8%, average 11.1%), (E)-nerolidol (0.0-41.0%, average 6.8%), and artemisia ketone (0.0-46.1%, average 5.1%). This is the first report on the essential oil composition of A. acanthicarpa and the first report on the enantiomeric distribution in an Ambrosia species. The essential oil compositions of A. ludoviciana and G. sarothrae showed wide variation in composition in this study and compared with previous studies, likely due to subspecies variation.

Lopes-Lutz D, Alviano DS, Alviano CS, Kolodziejczyk PP. Screening of chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Artemisia essential oils. Phytochemistry. 2008 May;69(8):1732-8. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.02.014. 

Abstract. The chemical composition of essential oils isolated from aerial parts of seven wild sages from Western Canada -Artemisia absinthium L., Artemisia biennis Willd., Artemisia cana Pursh, Artemisia dracunculus L., Artemisia frigida Willd., Artemisia longifolia Nutt. and Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt., was investigated by GC-MS. A total of 110 components were identified accounting for 71.0-98.8% of the oil composition. High contents of 1,8-cineole (21.5-27.6%) and camphor (15.9-37.3%) were found in Artemisia cana, A. frigida, A. longifolia and A. ludoviciana oils. The oil of A. ludoviciana was also characterized by a high content of oxygenated sesquiterpenes with a 5-ethenyltetrahydro-5-methyl-2-furanyl moiety, of which davanone (11.5%) was the main component identified. A. absinthium oil was characterized by high amounts of myrcene (10.8%), trans-thujone (10.1%) and trans-sabinyl acetate (26.4%). A. biennis yielded an oil rich in (Z)-beta-ocimene (34.7%), (E)-beta-farnesene (40.0%) and the acetylenes (11.0%) (Z)- and (E)-en-yn-dicycloethers. A. dracunculus oil contained predominantly phenylpropanoids such as methyl chavicol (16.2%) and methyl eugenol (35.8%). Artemisia oils had inhibitory effects on the growth of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis), yeasts (Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans), dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis, and Microsporum gypseum), Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Aspergillus niger. A. biennis oil was the most active against dermatophytes, Cryptococcus neoformans, Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Aspergillus niger, and A. absinthium oil the most active against Staphylococcus strains. In addition, antioxidant (beta-carotene/linoleate model) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities were determined, and weak activities were found for these oils.

Julián-Flores A, Aguilar-Zárate P, Michel MR, Sepúlveda-Torre L, Torres-León C, Aguilar CN, Chávez-González ML. Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants in the Context of Gastrointestinal Health: A Review. Plants (Basel). 2025 Feb 20;14(5):642. doi: 10.3390/plants14050642.

Abstract. Medicinal plants represent promising sources for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders because of their abundance in bioactive compounds with therapeutic properties. Throughout history, various plant species have been used to alleviate digestive ailments, and studies have revealed the presence of metabolites with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidiarrheal, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. The secondary metabolites responsible for these properties include alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, with the latter, particularly flavonoids, being the most associated with their bioactivities. Gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastrointestinal cancer, are caused primarily by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and the consumption of raw or undercooked foods. These conditions significantly impact human health, necessitating the development of safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives. After an extensive literature review, several plant species with widespread use in the treatment of these disorders were identified, including Matricaria chamomilla, Mentha spicata, Melissa officinalis, Artemisia ludoviciana, Flourensia cernua, Phoradendron californicum, and Turnera difusa. This study revealed that the analyzed plants are rich in bioactive compounds, which confer their medicinal properties. However, many other plants commonly used to treat digestive disorders have been scarcely studied, highlighting the need for further research.