thujone
thujols
Figure 1 Thujones and thujols structure) (Fig. 2) and artabsin (Fig. 3). Small amounts of matricin may be present. Anabsinthin is an artifact, formed after isomerisation of absinthin (Steinegger and Hansel 1992). In full bloom, the amount of bitter substances is almost doubled (Schneider and Mielke 1979).
The plant also contains flavonoids, e.g. artemisitin, polyacetylenes, pelanolides (non-bitter sesquiterpenes) and phenylcarbolic acids (Wichtl, 1989).
Thujones are neurotoxic and cause absinthism. They affect the central nervous system, cause dizziness, convulsions, epileptiform seizures and delirium. The use of the drug is therefore considered as not safe. Ingestion of excessive doses over long periods may lead to digestive and urinary disorders. Although only relatively small amounts of thujones have been found in aqueous preparations (teas), these are best not used either (Tyler 1994, Bruneton 1995). A. absinthium is listed as an unsafe herb in a report of the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 1975 (De Smet 1993).
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