Artemisia afra and hypertension

Abstract

Considering all these data it would not be surprising to find that these diseases and Artemisia plants also have an effect on some metabolic and bodily functions.8 Epidemiological links between malaria parasitaemia and hypertension. A recent paper from South Africa reports a strong antihypertensive effect of Artemisia afra. The extract had its greatest antihypertensive effect at 2 and 4 hours post treatment, while the effect of Leonotis leonuras, another plant used for its antihypertensive properties, and of Furosemide were weak at its best. The authors also found that the Artemisia afra plant extract was non-toxic with LD50 values greater than 5000mg/kg.9,10 Similar hypotensive effects have been noticed in other Artemisia plants, for example, Artemisia herba alba11,12 or Artemisia Persia13 or Artemisia copa in Argentina14 and even Artemisia vulgaris.15