(Artemisia absinthium)
INTRODUCTION :
Since antiquity Artemisia absinthium is well known for its psychotropic effects. The name of this species is derived from the ancient Greek goddess, Artemis. The relation between the Greek goddess and the psycho-active plant is unfortunately not known.3
In the late nineteenth century Absinthe, an alcoholic beverage made from wormwood, was valued by European artists for its fantasy enhancing properties. Many works of Vincent van Gogh, Edouard Manet, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelair and H.P. Lovecraft were inspired by Absinthe.
Effects :
Fantasy enhancing-, anaesthetic- and aphrodisiastic effects, euphoria, hallucinations and a pleasant stimulation3 In some aspects, the effects appear to be similar to the Cannabis intoxication3.
Autonomic changes: increased appetite, spasms and epileptic-like attacks2,3.
Duration :
The effects start within an hour after ingestion and last for a few hours. When smoked, the effects last shorter time.
Dosage and preparation :
The plant material can be ingested, but it may also be smoked. In the latter situation the effects will be mild.
There are several ways to prepare Absinthe. The easiest way is to draw 30-40 grams of plant material in one liter of pernode for eight days. After filtration the drink can be imbibed. Absinthe can also be prepared from wodka: the same quantities are used, but after filtration anise is added.
Botanical aspects :
A. absinthium is a perennial that belongs to Compositae: Ateraceae; Tribus Antemideae and is widely distributed over Europe, North Africa, Asia and South America.3
The plant grows to one meter in height, has very fragrant green-gray coloured foliage, yellow flowers and produces very small brown seeds.
Cultivation of the plant is very simple. It can be propagated vetetatively (via root division) and through seeds. The seeds should be scattered over the surface of the soil, tamped in gently and be watered. The germination periode lasts only a few weeks.
Figure: A. absinthium
Phytochemistry :
Wormwood contains an aromatic oil that is rich in a-tujon (the main active ingredient), cis-epoxyocimen, trans-sabinylacetate and chrysanthenyl-acetate. Sesquiterpenlactones and flavonoids (quercetin and glycosides of kaempferol) have also been isolated. 2 Quercetine is the flavanol of luteoline and kaempferol is the flavanol of apigenine.
Scopoletine (7-hydroxy, 6-methoxycumarine) is present in Artemisia vulgaris.
Table 1.8: Flavonoids
Trivial names Formal names
Kaempferol 3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxy flavone
Quercetin 3,5,7,4',5'-pentahydroxyflavone
Apigenine (active constituent of Passiflora species) 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone
Luteoline (active constituent of Passiflora species) 5,7,4',5'-tetrahydroxyflavone
Pharmacology :
Tujon (a monoterpene) and tetrahydrocannabinol (D9THC) share the same molecular symmetry. By that they also share similar pharmacological action: in vivo tujon and THC bind to cannabinoid-receptors (CB1-receptors). CB1-receptors resemble opioid-receptor-subtypes m, s and k: after binding adenylylcyclase is inhibited, k+-channels are activated and ca2+-channels are blocked. 2, 3
Apart from the resemblance to THC, tujon ((4-methyl,1(1-methyletyl)-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexaan-3-on) is also closely related to pinen and camphor (Cinnamomum camphora).1
The flavonoids are also thought to be psychoactive. This expectation is based on the fact that many closely related flavonoids (for example chrisine, apigenine and luteoline) appear to be naturally occuring ligands (agonists) on benzodiazepine receptors and thus exhibit allosteric modulation of the GABA-receptor-proteins. 3, 7 In addition, the 3' and 4' glucuronide substituted quercetines have the ability to inhibit xanthine-oxidase and lipoxygenase at low m molecular concentrations; the 3- or 7-position substituted quercetines appear to be 80-500 times less potent. 6
The flavonoids are metabolised in the gastrointestinal lumen and liver and are substrate for P-glycoproteins (MRP1 and MRP2), glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) and sulfotranferases (SULT). 6 Transport of position 4' substituted glycosides of quercetine (and probably also other flavonoids) into the enterocytes is modulated by Na+-glucose transporters, but transcellular absorption does not occur due to the presence of secretory protein MRP-2. 6 Pharmacological information concerning the flavonoids is fragmented, so more research has to be done in this direction.
Modifiers :
- Alcohol alters the effects of wormwood.
- Activated charcoal counteracts the effects of the aromatic oil.
- Milk quickens absorption of the lipophilic aromatic oil.
Dangerous :
Excessive use may lead to psychological dependence.
References
1. [Fesssenden/ Fessenden, 1998]
2. [Forth/ Henschler/ Rummel/ Fostermann/ Starke, 2001]
3. [Ratsch, 1998]
4. [Karrer, 1950]
5. [Lee/ Chung/ Lee/ Yoo]
6. [Erlund]
7. [Wolfman/ Paladini/ Medina/ Levi de stein/ Calvo/ Diaz, 1999] |
