Desert plant shows promise as colorectal cancer treatment

Artemisia herba-alba, known also as common wormwood, white wormwood, or simply herba alba. (Credit: Nahhana on Shutterstock)

* A common desert plant called Artemisia herba-alba contains compounds that can effectively kill colorectal cancer cells in laboratory tests while appearing to leave healthy cells unharmed

* The plant extract works through multiple mechanisms to fight cancer cells, triggering cell death, stopping cell division, and disrupting cancer cell communication pathways — making it harder for cancer cells to develop resistance

* While promising, this research was conducted in laboratory conditions, and more studies are needed before this could become an actual treatment for patients with colorectal cancer

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates — A common aromatic shrub that has served as traditional medicine for centuries could point the way toward innovative treatments for colorectal cancer, according to scientists from the University of Sharjah.

Artemisia herba-alba, known variously as common wormwood, white wormwood, or simply herba alba, grows naturally throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Local populations have long used this hardy desert plant to treat various ailments including bronchitis, diarrhea, hypertension, and diabetes. Now, scientists have discovered it harbors compounds that could help fight one of the world’s deadliest cancers.

“Colorectal cancer is a common and serious illness, making it essential to find new and better treatments,” explains Dr. Lara Bou Malhab, lead author and research associate at Sharjah’s Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, in a statement. This need is particularly urgent given that colorectal cancer ranks as the third most common cancer worldwide, accounting for nearly 10% of all cancer cases and standing as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In 2020 alone, the disease claimed one million lives while doctors diagnosed two million new cases.

The research team’s findings, published in Food Science & Nutrition, reveal that extracts from this unassuming plant can effectively target and kill colorectal cancer cells through multiple mechanisms while appearing to leave healthy cells relatively unharmed. This selective targeting ability particularly excites researchers because current chemotherapy treatments often struggle with both drug resistance and severe side effects.

Bush of the young common wormwood, species Artemisia absinthium among the other grass on a meadow in summer sunny day. (Photo by anmbph on Shutterstock)

To conduct their investigation, researchers carefully collected aerial parts of Artemisia herba-alba from southern Jordan in May 2021. Professor M. Hudaib, an expert in Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry at the University of Jordan’s School of Pharmacy, supervised the precise botanical identification of these specimens. The team then followed a meticulous preparation process, air-drying the plant material at room temperature while protecting it from direct sunlight to preserve its sensitive components.

“This preliminary step was done to enhance the effectiveness of the next extraction process, guaranteeing the highest possible amount of the extracted phytochemicals,” the researchers note in their paper. They ground the dried plant into an extremely fine powder with particles no larger than 0.5 millimeters before creating a methanol-based extract for testing.

Using sophisticated analytical techniques, the team identified several bioactive compounds within the plant known for their cancer-fighting properties, including ephedrine, hydroxyflavone, and quinolinic acid. Each of these compounds appears to attack cancer cells through different mechanisms, creating a multi-pronged assault on the disease.

“It also disrupted the cell cycle and reduced the activity of proteins like Cyclin B1 and CDK1, which are crucial for cancer cell division,” adds Dr. Bou Malhab. “Additionally, it blocked the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, which plays a major role in cancer development.”

The researchers tested the extract against eight different types of colorectal cancer cells, representing various genetic profiles including some with and without the crucial p53 tumor suppressor gene. This comprehensive approach allowed them to evaluate how the treatment might work across different forms of the disease.

A handful of dried wormwood used with traditional medicines. (Photo by Light Stock on Shutterstock)

Perhaps most remarkably, the plant extract demonstrated an ability to trigger programmed cell death in cancer cells regardless of their genetic makeup. This finding proves particularly significant because it suggests the treatment could potentially work even against more aggressive forms of colorectal cancer that have lost important tumor-suppressing genes.

Two cancer cell lines showed complete resistance to the treatment, highlighting that while promising, Artemisia herba-alba likely would work best as part of a targeted treatment strategy rather than a universal solution. This aligns with the growing understanding that cancer treatment often requires personalized approaches.

“These results suggest that Artemisia herba-alba has great potential as a new tool in fighting CRC,” says Dr. Bou Malhab. “Artemisia herba-alba could be a promising natural ingredient for new cancer treatments based on our findings.”

The research could prove especially significant for pharmaceutical development, as current chemotherapy treatments often face challenges with drug resistance and harmful side effects. As the researchers conclude their study, they emphasize the need for further investigation “to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and clinical efficacy of Artemisia herba-alba in the context of cancer treatment.”

Researchers began by carefully collecting and processing Artemisia herba-alba plants from southern Jordan. The aerial parts were dried, ground into a fine powder, and subjected to methanol extraction. This extract underwent detailed chemical analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify its active compounds. The team then tested the extract on eight different colorectal cancer cell lines, measuring its effects on cell survival, death mechanisms, cell cycle progression, and key signaling pathways.

The extract demonstrated significant anti-cancer activity, with IC50 values (the concentration needed to inhibit 50% of cancer cell growth) ranging from approximately 170 to 205 μg/mL after 48 hours of treatment. It triggered cell death through both apoptotic and necrotic pathways and caused significant cell cycle arrest in the G2-M phase. The extract also showed ability to inhibit the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, crucial for cancer cell survival.

While the results are promising, this research was conducted in laboratory conditions using cell lines, and further studies would be needed to confirm these effects in living organisms. The study also didn’t explore potential interactions with existing cancer treatments or possible side effects.

This research demonstrates that Artemisia herba-alba could potentially serve as a source for new cancer treatments, particularly for colorectal cancer. Its multi-targeted approach and effectiveness against different genetic variants of cancer cells make it an especially interesting candidate for drug development.

This research was funded by the University of Sharjah (grant number: 23010901139). The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Published in Food Science & Nutrition, 2025, Volume 13, Issue 1, this peer-reviewed study represents a collaborative effort between researchers from multiple institutions across the UAE, Jordan, and the United States. The research was accepted for publication on December 10, 2024, after undergoing revisions based on peer review.

New!

Some members of the Artemisia genus grow in Arizona. I wonder if any compounds from Sonoran Desert plants might have major medicinal uses.

I hardly had time to mow my lawn last year. By autumn my yard was overgrown with mugwort. Beautiful “weed”. Grew to about 5 feet tall. I liked it because it gave me natural privacy.
A real pain cutting it down.

No more studies needed.

I don't expect any FDA approval until big pharma is able to make an artificial version that can be patented.

I wonder if any compounds from Sonoran Desert plants might have major medicinal uses.

absolutely
looking for a web list that is free
all I have are old reference books

Mugworting used to refer to getting robbed, hence the term “mugging”. Beats me how that happened. And maybe I imagined the whole thing. Probably read it in Louise Riotte’s tomato book.

Lamb’s ear (a biennial) is kinda cool at first, and pops up wild, but I’d never plant it again. :^)

I picked up a rue plant because it’s really pretty, even before flowering, but handled it a little, then rubbed my eyes. Ow. I can’t believe people take that internally as tea and such.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruta_graveolens

Mugwort is also known as felon herb!

I have lamb's ears.Love it! it's so soft.

Rue. Have it. It took me a few years to figure out the mysterious blisters on my hands. This is pre internet days. Found out later it reacts to sunlight. Now when it's overcast I weed around it while wearing gloves. Very pretty plant.

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