Biological Activity of Extracts from Artemisia arborescens (Vaill.)L.: An Overview about Insecticidal, Antimicrobial, Antifungal and Herbicidal Properties

Following their evolutionary process, many plants have oriented their secondary metabolism towards the production of complex molecules, which often show an apparent protective function against pests (insects, fungi, viruses, but also competing plants). The identification and the study of such compounds could play a significant role in the frame of the development of new techniques for sustainable plant protection, where they could help in achieving the goal of a reduction in the use of the most highly-impact chemicals. The Mediterranean basin, with its very large biodiversity, represents a huge reservoir of highly promising plant material, which is scarcely explored as far. Indeed, preliminary trials have allowed to state that a large number of Mediterranean plants possess definite biological activities, that give them a great interest as potential raw matters for many industrial sectors. Among these, Artemisia arborescens (Vaill.) L., a common shrub from the family Asteraceae, was found to exert a wide range of biocidal activities, which may represent the starting point for the best exploitation of this plant. In this paper, a thorough review is made about the studies that have been carried out worldwide about the composition and some of the biological activities of A. arborescens. Original data are included and discussed, concerning trials about the evaluation of the activity of essential oil and water extracts against selected mealybugs, fungal and microbial strains, as well as against the germination capacity of the seeds of several common weeds.