Antioxidant Role of Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) in Neutralizing Free Radicals and Preventing Oxidative Stress

Christi Taban
Oct 10
3 min read

Part I: Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Mechanisms of Tarragon

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.), a member of the Asteraceae family, is a medicinal and aromatic herb rich in diverse bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolics, and terpenoids. These constituents exhibit strong antioxidant properties capable of neutralizing free radicals in the human body. Recent studies have demonstrated that A. dracunculus extracts can enhance endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity, thereby preventing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular damage. This paper reviews the bioactive compounds, molecular mechanisms, and experimental evidence highlighting the protective role of tarragon against oxidative damage.

Tarragon is a natural source of phenolic, flavonoid, and terpenoid compounds. Chemical analyses using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) have identified key constituents of its essential oil, including estragole, ocimene, sabinene, eugenol, and methyl chavicol.Among its phenolic components, quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol play a central role in its antioxidant capacity.

⚗️ Antioxidant Mechanisms

The antioxidant activity of tarragon occurs through multiple biochemical pathways:

Electron or hydrogen atom donation to free radicals, leading to their neutralization.
Inhibition of oxidative enzymes such as xanthine oxidase, which catalyze the formation of superoxide radicals.
Upregulation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).
Protection of cellular membranes from lipid peroxidation and oxidative degradation.

In in vitro assays such as DPPH and ABTS, methanolic extracts of tarragon demonstrated over 80% free radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 65.4 μg/mL (Springer, 2016).

Part II: Effects of Tarragon on Oxidative Stress and Human Health

Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage DNA, proteins, and lipids. Their accumulation leads to oxidative stress, a key factor in the development of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, premature aging, and cardiovascular disorders.

🔬 Experimental and Clinical Evidence

Mousavi et al. (2019) reported that ethanolic extracts of tarragon significantly increased SOD and CAT activity in rat liver tissues under oxidative stress, while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.
A 2021 clinical trial demonstrated that tarragon supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes enhanced plasma antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative stress biomarkers.
Another study (PMC11352149, 2024) showed that in vivo administration of A. dracunculus extract improved the TOS/TAC ratio and protected mitochondrial DNA from oxidative damage.

💚 Potential Health Applications

Anti-aging effects: Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and preservation of skin elasticity.
Cardiovascular protection: Prevention of LDL oxidation and reduction of atherosclerosis risk.
Immune support: Restoration of redox balance and enhancement of cellular defense.
Hepatoprotection: Protection of the liver against drug- and toxin-induced oxidative damage.

Conclusion

Tarragon possesses a broad spectrum of natural antioxidant compounds, making it an effective botanical defense against oxidative stress and free radical–induced damage.Scientific evidence from both in vitro and in vivo studies supports the use of Artemisia dracunculus extracts for maintaining cellular health, slowing premature aging, and preventing chronic oxidative-related disorders.

References

Mousavi, S. et al. (2019). Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Artemisia dracunculus extract in oxidative stress-induced rats.
Springer (2016). Antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effect of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) extract and chemical composition of its essential oil. Food Measure 10(3): 454–462.
PMC (2021). Artemisia dracunculus: A Review of Its Biological and Medicinal Properties. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8076785
PMC (2024). Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Artemisia dracunculus. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11352149
Wiley (2023). Extraction of Functional Compounds from Tarragon Using Deep Eutectic Solvents.
ScienceDirect (2025). A combined UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and GC-MS approach for phenolic profiling of Artemisia dracunculus.
ImpactFactor.org (2023). The Antioxidant and DNA Protection Activity of the Tarragon’s Methanolic Extract.
Taylor & Francis (2024). The antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial and anticancer potential of Artemisia species.