A. Basta, O. Tzakou and M. Couladis* and M. Pavlovic´

Abstract: The hydrodistilled essential oil of the aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium L. was analyzed by GC/MS. Sixty-eight components of the oil were identified representing 93.4%. The main components were caryophyllene oxide (25.3%), p-cymene (16.8%), 1,8-cineole (8.9%) and (Z)-lanceol acetate (7.3%).

Plant name <i>Artemisia absinthium</i> L. (Compositae). Source Aerial parts of <i>A. absinthium</i> were collected during the flowering stage from Monodendri, Epirus in July 1999. Voucher specimens have been deposited in the Herbarium of the Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, University of Athens. Plant part Air dried aerial parts were submitted to hydrodistillation for 3 h in a Clevenger-type apparatus. Yield: 0.31%. Previous Work The genus <i>Artemisia</i>, belonging to the family Compositae (Asteraceae) is represented by ca. 350 species from which 55 species occur in Europe. <i>Artemisia absinthium</i> L. (wormwood) is a aromatic, perennial small shrub distributed in the Central and Southern Europe (1,2). It is used as bitter aromatic, to stimulate the appetite, for gastrointestinal complaints, as a carminative, choleretic and in spasmodic disorders of the intestines and biliary tract (3). The essential oil of this plant originating from different countries has been the subject of previous investigations (4–11). Different chemotypes were reported in literature (4,5) and the main components were found to differ in relation to the plant origin. At present, <i>A. absinthium</i> is commonly used in food industry in the preparation of aperitives, bitters and spirits.