Sandra C. Gouveia, Paula C. Castilho
Aerial parts of Artemisia annua growth in three different locations of Madeira Archipelago were studied. The essential oil composition was established by GC-MS and the main components were mono- and sesquiterpenes; artemisia ketone was not detected.
The presence of phenolic compounds in the acetone extracts was investigated by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn and a diversified phenolic profile of 40 hydrocinnamic acid derivatives and glycosylated flavonoids was found. A few compounds were reported for the first time inArtemisia annua.
The antioxidant capacity of essential oils and extracts were measured by three different in vitro assays. For the essential oils, a very good antioxidant response was found and the extracts also showed a good antioxidant capacity, in particular as antiradical scavengers.
1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid,
3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 3,4,5-O-tricaffeoylquinic acid (>98%
by HPLC for all) were obtained from Chengdo Biopurify Phytochemicals, Ltd China (Sichuan
