French Tarragon
French Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus ‘Sativa’)
French Tarragon, an aromatic perennial plant from the Asteraceae family, provides an anise-like flavor to foods and has been used for centuries in the daily diet in many Middle Eastern countries (Durić et al., 2015). While there is insufficient evidence to support the medicinal effectiveness of the herb, it is used for digestive disorders and toothache, to promote menstruation, and as a diuretic, appetite stimulant, and hypnotic (Therapeutic Research Center, 2022). In folk medicine and in experimental studies, French Tarragon is believed to be beneficial in gastrointestinal tract function and diuretic action (Obolskiy et al., 2011). French Tarragon contains estragole, which can be harmful if taken in large quantities, although research has determined that short-term consumption at recommended dosages is not a significant risk (Public statement on the use of herbal medicinal products containing estragole; Smith et al., 2002). In the nursery trade, French Tarragon may be confused with Russian Tarragon, the unselected form of the same species, but lacking its attractive culinary qualities. One recent, preliminary animal study indicated that an intake of Russian Tarragon extract can prevent diet-induced insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and lipid accumulation in the muscle and liver without reducing body weight (Yu et al., 2018).
Historical Use
In historical texts, the common name for Tarragon is Mugwort. This excerpt, from A nievve herbal, produced in 1578 by Rembert Dodoens, describes the virtues of the plant. The text indicates that Tarragon may be combined with oil of sweet almonds and, applied to the stomach as a plaster, “cureth all the payne and griefe of the lame.” The text also claims that the herb has some useful benefits to travelers, because, for those that carry the herb, “no venomous beast or any like thing shall hurte him, and if he travels upon the way, he shall not be weary.”
Latest Research
- Ethanol extract and isolated constituents from artemisia dracunculus inhibit esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and induce apoptotic cell deathby L Hong on July 31, 2014 at 10:00 am
The objective of the present study was to examine the antitumor efficacy of the ethanol extract from Artemisia dracunculus as well as the compounds isolated from it on cultured EC‑109 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. Apoptotic activities of the compounds were also studied using flow cytometry. EC‑109 esophageal cancer cells were treated with varying concentrations of compounds 1-7 isolated from the plant as well as the ethanol extract of Artemisia dracunculus. The cytotoxicity…
- Artemisia dracunculus L. polyphenols complexed to soy protein show enhanced bioavailability and hypoglycemic activity in C57BL/6 miceby David M Ribnicky on July 3, 2014 at 10:00 am
CONCLUSION: Complexation with soy protein makes antidiabetic A. dracunculus polyphenols more bioavailable and bioaccessible.
- Fresh aromatic herbs containing methylchavicol did not exhibit the pro-oxidative effects of pure methylchavicol on a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2by M Bidri on October 2, 2012 at 10:00 am
Methylchavicol (CH(3)-CV), an important aromatic constituent of different plants like tarragon and basils, has been shown to be carcinogenic by a mechanism yet unclear, although it has been reported that carcinogenicity of CH(3)-CV in rodent might be linked to its metabolic conversion into a genotoxic electrophilic metabolite generated through a two steps bioactivation pathway catalyzed by cytochrome P450 enzymes and sulfotransferases. The induction of carcinogenesis by certain agents has been…
- Comparative evaluation of two different Artemisia dracunculus L. cultivars for blood sugar lowering effects in ratsby Stefanie Weinoehrl on September 29, 2011 at 10:00 am
Recent concerns about the potential carcinogenicity of estragole and methyleugenol led a number of regulatory bodies to call for restrictions on the use of herbs that contain these constituents. A number of medicinal plants produce essential oils that contain estragole and methyleugenol, including Artemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon). Previous studies have proven the antidiabetic properties of tarragon. In order to address the safety concerns of estragole containing tarragon extracts, an…
- Artemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon): a critical review of its traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology, and safetyby Dmitry Obolskiy on September 28, 2011 at 10:00 am
Artemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon) has a long history of use as a spice and remedy. Two well-described “cultivars” (Russian and French) are used widely and differ in ploidy level, morphology, and chemistry. Key biologically active secondary metabolites are essential oils (0.15-3.1%), coumarins (>1%), flavonoids, and phenolcarbonic acids. In vivo studies mainly in rodents, particularly from Russian sources, highlight potential anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antihyperglycemic effects….
References
Durić, K., Kovac Besovic, E. E., Niksic, H., Muratovic, S., & Sofic, E. (2015). Anticoagulant activity of some Artemisia dracunculus leaf extracts. Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 15(2), 9–14. https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2015.384
Obolskiy, D., Pischel, I., Feistel, B., Glotov, N., & Heinrich, M. (2011). Artemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon): A critical review of its traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology, and safety. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 59(21), 11367–11384. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf202277w
European Medicines Agency. (2014). Public statement on the use of herbal medicinal products containing estragole.
Smith, R. L., Adams, T. B., Doull, J., Feron, V. J., Goodman, J. I., Marnett, L. J., Portoghese, P. S., Waddell, W. J., Wagner, B. M., Rogers, A. E., Caldwell, J., & Sipes, I. G. (2002). Safety assessment of allylalkoxybenzene derivatives used as flavouring substances—Methyl eugenol and estragole. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 40(7), 851–870. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0278-6915(02)00012-1
Therapeutic Research Center. In Natural Medicines. French Terragon. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
Yu, Y., Mendoza, T. M., Ribnicky, D. M., Poulev, A., Noland, R. C., Mynatt, R. L., Raskin, I., Cefalu, W. T., & Floyd, Z. E. (2018). An extract of Russian tarragon prevents obesity-related ectopic lipid accumulation. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 62(8), e1700856. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201700856