Nilgri wormwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Nilgri wormwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Artemisia vulgaris var. nilagirica

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it follows the order Asterales and is a member of the family Asteraceae. Its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with the genus Artemisia, identifying it specifically as Artemisia nilagirica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across parts of East Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In China, its distribution is notably found within the South-Central regions as well as the high-altitude areas of Tibet. Moving toward the Indian subcontinent, the species can be located in the state of Assam. Furthermore, it is widely recorded throughout the country of India. Finally, its habitat extends to the specific ecological zones of the West Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Artemisia nilagirica is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its natural habitat through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial plant, it does not complete its life cycle in a single season like annuals or two seasons like biennials; instead, it maintains its physiological presence over several years, often developing robust root systems that facilitate long-term survival. This perennial nature enables the plant to establish itself within its specific ecological niche, contributing to the stability of its local environment and allowing it to regrow and flower repeatedly across different seasonal cycles.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Artemisia nilagirica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, manifesting as a self-supporting plant that does not require climbing structures. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and maintains a terrestrial habit rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic. As a herb, its structural integrity is defined by its non-woody nature, allowing it to thrive in its specific ecological niche without the development of lignified tissues.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Artemisia nilagirica is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage, which play a critical role in its metabolic processes and surface area for photosynthesis. The leaves exhibit a consistent size distribution, with a mean leaf length of 5.5 cm and a range spanning from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. Complementing this longitudinal dimension, the leaf width demonstrates significant variability, maintaining a mean width of 4 cm; the width fluctuates between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 5 cm. These precise structural parameters govern the plant's transpiration rates and light interception capabilities, facilitating its physiological adaptation to its environmental niche.

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Artemisia nilagirica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Planta medica
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences
3. Heliyon

Chemicals

Artemisia nilagirica has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Glycosides, Saponins, Terpenoids, 1,8-Cineole.

Flavonoids

1. Planta medica
2. Archives of pharmacal research

Glycosides

1. Planta medica
2. Archives of pharmacal research

Saponins

1. Planta medica
2. Archives of pharmacal research

Terpenoids

1. Planta medica
2. Archives of pharmacal research

1,8-Cineole

1. Planta medica

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Planta medica

Artemisia alcohol

1. Planta medica

Artemorin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Borneol

1. Planta medica

CAMPHENE

1. Planta medica

Activities

Artemisia nilagirica has 17 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Hepatoprotective, Antiasthmatic, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Antimicrobial

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Heliyon

Hepatoprotective

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Heliyon

Antiasthmatic

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antibacterial

1. Heliyon

Anticancer

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antidepressant

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antidiabetic

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antiemetic

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antiepileptic

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Medicinal Uses

Artemisia nilagirica has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations