In the present study, the extraction of volatile terpenes from A. annua with supercritical CO₂ (sc-CO₂) was optimized by a full factorial design procedure and compared with conventional distillation. The influence of pressure (100–220 bar) and temperature (40–60 °C) on sc-CO₂ extraction was investigated to obtain extracts rich in the desired components while maintaining a high yield. Extraction yields (m/m) varied from 0.62% (130 bar/40 °C) to 1.92% (100 bar/60 °C). Monoterpenes were the most abundant constituents of the sc-CO₂ extracts, among which artemisia ketone (16.93–48.49%), camphor (3.29–18.44%) and 1,8-cineole (4.77–11.89%) dominated. Arteannuin B (3.98–10.03%) and β-selinene (1.05–7.42%) were the major sesquiterpenes. Differences were found between the terpene profiles of the sc-CO₂ extracts and the essential oils obtained by conventional hydrodistillation and steam distillation, as well as between the distilled essential oils. Our results demonstrate the optimal conditions for the rapid and effective supercritical extraction of certain monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes from A. annua, which have promising antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a crucial role in vascular repair, and their depletion has been involved in coronary artery disease (CAD) severity. This study examines the relationship between circulating EPC levels and CAD complexity, as quantified by the Syntax Score I. A total of 85 patients undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled, with EPCs quantified using flow cytometry. EPC proportion showed a significant inverse relationship with CAD severity, measured by Syntax Score I. Additionally, we investigated EPC levels in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and found that EPC depletion was more pronounced in this group compared to non-ACS patients (median EPC count: 0.35 vs. 0.61, p = 0.027). These findings suggest that lower EPC levels are indicative of more severe CAD and ACS, reinforcing their potential as biomarkers for cardiovascular risk stratification, monitoring disease advancement, and identifying patients at risk of adverse events.