Phytochemical profiling of Artemisia absinthium essential oils from different regions of Türkiye and preliminary evaluation of their antibacterial and honeybee locomotor effects

This study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of essential oils obtained from Artemisia absinthium collected in Sivas (AAS), Erzincan (AAE) and Hakkari (AAH) and to evaluate their effects on honeybee locomotor activity. The chemical composition of the essential oils was analyzed by GC–MS, revealing notable regional differences. Chamazulene was identified as the predominant compound in all samples, with the highest concentration in AAH (64.6%), while AAE was characterized by a high β-thujone content (18.3%). Locomotor activity assays showed no significant differences between control and treated groups over a 24-hour period (H (3) = 4.270, p=0.234; F (3,121)=0.867, p=0.460), indicating no detectable acute locomotor alterations under the tested conditions. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils was evaluated using the disc diffusion method against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Antibacterial effects varied depending on the oils' geographical origin and chemical composition. AAE and AAS essential oils showed comparatively larger inhibition zones, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, whereas AAH showed selective activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. No inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes was observed with any of the tested oils. Overall, the oils' antibacterial activity was moderate and selective compared with the positive control, imipenem. These findings suggest that regional variation significantly influences the chemical composition and biological activity of A. absinthium essential oils. Furthermore, the tested oils did not produce detectable acute locomotor alterations in honeybees under the conditions tested. These findings provide preliminary insight into the relationship between regional phytochemical variability and the biological properties of A. absinthium essential oils. © 2026 Bursa Uludag University International copyright: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 This article is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 To view a copy of this licence, visit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/