Lemon wormwood, also known as the tree of God, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the wormwood family, valued for its rich chemical composition and aromatic properties. Its essential oil contains up to 0.3% citral - a substance with a bright lemon scent, as well as linalool, which adds an additional fruity note. In addition, the leaves of lemon wormwood are rich in flavonoids, tannins, and a small amount of alkaloids, including abrotanin, which makes the plant useful but requires moderate consumption.
In terms of application, lemon wormwood is widely used as a medicinal agent and spice. In homeopathy and folk medicine, its essence is used for anemia, angina, scrofula, and other diseases. The roots of the plant are used in the treatment of epilepsy and tuberculous meningitis. Thanks to its citrus aroma with notes of orange, lemon, and pineapple, wormwood is also used as a flavoring and additive to food products.
Harvesting is carried out during flowering, when the content of essential oil reaches a maximum. Under optimal growing conditions, the aerial mass grows at an intensity of about 2 cm/day in late April - late May, and when harvesting in the phase of mass flowering, the yield can reach up to 85 kg/ha, of which approximately 16.9 kg/ha is citral. With proper drying, the dried raw material becomes almost tasteless, which makes it convenient for further use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
