Phytochemical screening, antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activities of ethanolic extract of Artemisia vulgaris L. harvested in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

Wormwood (Artemisia vulgaris) is a widely used medicinal herb worldwide. Traditionally, it has been employed to treat various ailments such as musculoskeletal disorders, pain relief, pregnancy support, and hemostasis. Additionally, wormwood exhibits diverse biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. This study reports the phytochemical composition and in vitro antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities of the ethanolic leaf extract of A. vulgaris. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the ethanol extract from Artemisia vulgaris leaves collected in Thai Nguyen revealed the presence of four major classes of bioactive compounds: alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. The A. vulgaris extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ value of 7.20 µg/mL. Moreover, the extract inhibited the growth of three bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, Citrobacter freundii) and three fungal strains (Aspergillus brasiliensis, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans) at a concentration of 50 µg/mL. These findings highlight the potential of Artemisia vulgaris as a source of natural compounds that could serve as alternatives to synthetic antibiotics and antioxidants, contributing significantly to modern medicine and the conservation of traditional medicinal plants.