The drug contains sesquiterpene lactones (absinthin, artabsin, anabsinthin) (= bitter principles), essential oil (thujone, sabinyl acetate, chrysanthenyl acetate, epoxyocimene), flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin, and phenolic acids such as caffeic, chlorogenic, and syringic acids.
Used as a bitter (amarum) for loss of appetite and in the food industry for making liqueurs (e.g., absinthe).
The leaves are grayish green on both sides, covered with a felt-like layer; the stem is also woolly with five longitudinal ridges. The inflorescence is arranged in an erect panicle. The bisexual tubular flowers are yellow in color, with few peripheral ray florets.
It is listed in the pharmacopoeia.
In pulverized drug under the microscope we can see:
Characteristic T-shaped covering trichomes
Glandular trichomes
Fragments of tubular and ray florets containing druses and glandular trichomes
