Phytochemicals of Artemisia absinthium: Natural Antioxidant, Anticancer Agents, and its Characterizations

Artemisia absinthium L. (wormwood) is rich in bioactive constituents—including monoterpenes, sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, and phenolic acids—that underpin documented antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Growing interest in plant-derived therapeutics has intensified the need for systematic evaluation of extraction strategies that maximize yield, stability, and bioactivity of these compounds. This review synthesizes current evidence on conventional and advanced extraction methods applied to Artemisia absinthium (A. absinthium) and relates the resulting phytochemical profiles to biological effects, with emphasis on antioxidant and anticancer outcomes. Additionally, it explores the integration of standardized wormwood extracts into modern controlled-release systems such as polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, and nanoemulsions to enhance solubility, bioavailability, targeting precision, and therapeutic index. By bridging traditional uses with contemporary pharmaceutical technologies, this review highlights opportunities for method optimization, extract standardization, and rational formulation design, and outlines key research gaps to accelerate translation of A. absinthium into evidence-based drug delivery applications.