An ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia herba-alba was partitioned by HPLC in 10 fractions that were tested in the [H-3]-flumazenil radioligand assay, for affinity to the GABA(A)-benzodiazepine receptor. Two fractions showed activity from which hispidulin and cirsilineol were isolated. The structures were confirmed by H-1 NMR. The IC50 values were 8 mu M for hispidulin and 100 mu M for cirsilineol. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.