Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus ) has long been used in traditional Asian medicine, mainly in Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and India. It is known as a spice species in Asia, Europe and the Americas.
The name Artemisia dracunculus is derived from the Latin word “dracunculus” meaning “a small dragon”, and refers to the shape of the leaves, which resemble dragon tongues. However intimidating the name, Tarragon was recommended by the Arab healer Avecenna for bad digestion. Tarragon was introduced to Europe by the Crusaders returning from the Middle East.
The main component of the raw materials, i.e. herb and leaves, is essential oil. The composition of A. dracunculus essential oil depends, inter alia, on the location of the cultivation site, the salinity of the soil and the age of the plant. The highest concentrations of the essential oil are observed at the beginning of leaf budding and at the beginning of flowering.
The presence of essential oil with a highly variable composition, as well as flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins and alkamides, determines the medicinal and/or spice properties of the plant. In traditional Asian medicine, this species is used, for example, in the treatment of digestive system diseases, as an analgesic, hypnotic, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic (reducing fever) agent, and as an effective remedy in the treatment of helminthiasis (also known as worm infection).
Tarragon was a folk remedy a long time ago. Gelenus, Avicenna, Al-Beruni, Ibn al-Baitar, and others have noted about medicinal properties of tarragon in their works. Al-Beruni noted that “tarragon belongs to vegetables.” Avicenna had mentioned that “if tarragon chewed and kept in the mouth, it helps against foot-and-mouth disease; fresh tarragon grass useful for bleeding gums (gingiva) and bad breath.” Ibn al-Baitar pointed that tarragon makes breath “sweet,” removes the bitterness of drugs, and promotes good sleep.
In modern medicine, the aqueous extract of tarragon is used for the treatment of patients with chronic gastritis with low acidity. Pharmacological studies have confirmed its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects known from traditional uses; they have also proved very important new findings regarding its biological activity, such as antioxidant, immunomodulating and anti-tumour activities, as well as hepatoprotective and hypoglycaemic effects. Tarragon has long-held an established position in the food industry as a spice.