title: Essential Oil of Artemisia annua L.: An Extraordinary Component with Numerous Antimicrobial Properties.
abstract: Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) is native to China, now naturalised in many other countries, well known as the source of the unique sesquiterpene endoperoxide lactone artemisinin, and used in the treatment of the chloroquine-resistant and cerebral malaria. The essential oil is rich in mono- and sesquiterpenes and represents a by-product with medicinal properties. Besides significant variations in its percentage and composition have been reported (major constituents can be camphor (up to 48%), germacrene D (up to 18.9%), artemisia ketone (up to 68%), and 1,8 cineole (up to 51.5%)), the oil has been subjected to numerous studies supporting exciting antibacterial and antifungal activities. Both gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, and Listeria spp.), and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella, Haemophilus, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas spp.) and other microorganisms (Candida, Saccharomyces, and Aspergillus spp.) have been investigated. However, the experimental studies performed to date used different methods and diverse microorganisms; as a consequence, a comparative analysis on a quantitative basis is very difficult. The aim of this review is to sum up data on antimicrobial activity of A. annua essential oil and its major components to facilitate future approach of microbiological studies in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bilia
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale G.B. Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2378-9468
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santomauro
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale G.B. Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Camilla
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bergonzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale G.B. Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Donato