Introduction of Artemisia Species into the Egyptian Cultivation

AbstractThe seeds of three different Artemisia spp. were imported from Germany in order to en-hance the Egyptian cultivation with new medicinal plants. A field experiment was conducted on three species of Artemisia to evaluate their behavior under Egyptian environmental condition using organic farming system. Growth parameters and essential oil content were evaluated. Artemisia annua produced the highest values of fresh and dry weights, plant height, and number of branches per plant and content of artemisinin. Maximum yield of essential oil was achieved with Artemisia annua while the minimum one was obtained from Artemisia dracunculoides. The essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS. The main compound was found to be artemisia ketone and followed by 1, 8-cineole , camphor and germacrene in the oil of Artemisia annua, while the major compound in the essential oil of A. dracunculoides was found to be sabinene, followed by methyl-eugenol. Trans-isoelemicin,methyl-chavicol (estragole), trans-β-ocimene, linalool ...