Fighting Lung Cancer with an Ancient Herb
A humble plant from the Asteraceae family might hold a key to future cancer treatments.
For centuries, plants from the Artemisia genus have been treasured in traditional medicine systems worldwide—from Chinese practitioners using Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) to treat malaria to European herbalists utilizing other species for various ailments. Today, scientific research is uncovering exciting new potential for these plants, particularly in the fight against cancer. Recent studies reveal that Artemisia maritima, a species known as sea wormwood, possesses remarkable anti-cancer properties against certain types of lung cancer, offering new hope in the battle against this devastating disease.
Lung cancer remains one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for approximately 85% of all cases.
The search for more effective and less toxic treatments has led scientists to investigate medicinal plants, which have long served as sources of life-saving drugs.
The Artemisia genus has gained significant scientific interest since the discovery that Artemisia annua produces artemisinin, a potent anti-malarial compound that earned its discoverer the Nobel Prize in 2015. Beyond fighting malaria, research has revealed that various Artemisia species contain compounds with anti-cancer potential against multiple cancer types, including breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and lung cancers 1 8 .
Recent scientific investigations have uncovered that Artemisia maritima fights cancer through several simultaneous mechanisms, making it particularly challenging for cancer cells to develop resistance:
Cancer cells evade the natural process of programmed cell death that normally eliminates damaged cells. Artemisia maritima extract reactivates this process by increasing Bax proteins (which promote cell death) and decreasing Bcl-2 proteins (which prevent it), creating an imbalance that leads cancer cells to self-destruct 3 .
Rapid, uncontrolled division characterizes cancer cells. Artemisia maritima extract effectively stops this process at the G2/M phase, a critical checkpoint where cells prepare to divide. By preventing completion of the division cycle, the extract effectively freezes cancer cells in a pre-division state, blocking tumor growth 3 .
Perhaps most impressively, the herbal extract significantly suppresses cell migration, potentially limiting the ability of cancer cells to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body—the primary cause of cancer-related deaths 3 .
A pivotal 2020 study published in the Journal of BUON put Artemisia maritima to the test against three different human lung carcinoma cell lines: H1299, NCI-H1437, and PC-14 3 .
Researchers created an ethanolic extract from Artemisia maritima plants.
They grew three different human lung cancer cell lines in laboratory conditions. The NCI-H1437 line represented adenocarcinoma (the most common lung cancer type) from pleural effusion 4 .
Scientists treated the cancer cells with varying concentrations of the extract and measured cell survival using the CCK-8 assay.
Using specialized staining techniques and flow cytometry, they identified cells undergoing programmed death.
Western blotting techniques measured changes in apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2).
Flow cytometry helped determine where in the division cycle cells were arrested.
A wound healing assay measured how effectively the extract prevented cancer cells from moving and spreading.
The investigation yielded promising findings across all tested parameters:
| Cell Line | Response to Extract |
|---|---|
| H1299 | Decreased viability in a dose-dependent manner |
| NCI-H1437 | Decreased viability in a dose-dependent manner (most significant effect) |
| PC-14 | Decreased viability in a dose-dependent manner |
| Apoptosis Indicator | Change After Extract Treatment |
|---|---|
| Chromatin Condensation | Observed |
| Nuclear Fragmentation | Observed |
| Bax Protein | Increased |
| Bcl-2 Protein | Decreased |
The wound healing assay demonstrated that Artemisia maritima extract substantially impaired the ability of lung cancer cells to migrate, suggesting potential for preventing metastasis 3 .
Understanding this groundbreaking research requires familiarity with these essential laboratory tools and materials:
The ethanolic herbal extract tested, containing the potential active anti-cancer compounds 3 .
A colorimetric method for measuring cell viability and proliferation based on metabolic activity.
A flow cytometry technique that distinguishes between live, early apoptotic, late apoptotic, and necrotic cells.
A technique for detecting specific proteins (Bax and Bcl-2 in this case) in a sample of tissue homogenate or extract.
A simple method for measuring cell migration by creating a "scratch" in a cell monolayer and observing closure over time.
The anti-cancer potential extends beyond Artemisia maritima. Research on other species reveals similar promising results:
Show cytotoxic activity against colorectal cancer cells, both alone and in combination with chemotherapy drugs 9 .
Traditional Medicine Anti-cancerDemonstrates selective cytotoxicity against breast cancer and liposarcoma cells by inducing apoptosis 6 .
Selective Cytotoxicity Breast CancerMultiple species in the Artemisia genus show promise in cancer research, with various mechanisms of action being studied across different cancer types.
Research Ongoing Multiple Cancers"The discovery of Artemisia maritima's anti-lung cancer properties represents the exciting convergence of traditional plant medicine and modern scientific validation."
While this research is preliminary and conducted in laboratory settings rather than human trials, it offers a promising direction for future cancer drug development.
As scientists continue to unravel the complex mechanisms behind these anti-cancer effects—and identify the specific compounds responsible—we move closer to potentially developing new, multi-targeted therapies for lung cancer that are more selective and potentially less toxic than current treatments.
The humble Artemisia maritima, once overlooked as a simple seaside plant, may someday yield powerful medicines in the ongoing fight against one of humanity's most challenging diseases. As one review article noted, re-evaluating traditional herbal medicines offers "a potentially more rapid and accessible avenue for addressing the pressing need for improved cancer treatments" 8 .