A review of the research progress on Artemisia argyi Folium: botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and clinical application.

As a kind of well-known moxibustion material across the world, Artemisia argyi Folium (AAF) has a definite curative effect. From 1996 to now, various studies on AAF have been increasing year by year. That is why this paper is conducted because of no comprehensive summary except for an essential oil review recently published in 2023. Using "AAF" and "mugwort" as keywords, the related literature was summarized in four internationally recognized databases: PubMed, Web of Science, ACS, and ScienceDirect, mainly include four aspects such as botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical application. Four traditional identification methods and two new ones were reported. A total of 136 compounds were identified, among which 23 new terpenoids and two new flavonoids were discovered. The pharmacological effects of AAF mainly focus on anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, and other aspects. Clinically, it is mainly used in respiratory, immune, digestive, and nervous systems in addition to gynecology. The current research mainly focuses on the composition and pharmacology of AAF. Future studies should thoroughly establish the quality criteria and pharmacokinetics of AAF. According to the different application fields, the corresponding quality standards should be formulated to ensure the efficacy of drugs in the actual treatment.