The potential of Artemisia annua L. as a locally produced remedy for malaria in the tropics: agricultural, chemical and clinical aspects

The plant Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) is listed in the Chinese pharmaco poeia as a remedy for various fevers including malaria, and contains the we ll-established antimalarial compound artemisinin. In this study, a hybrid f orm of A. annua was successfully cultivated in Central Africa. The aerial p arts of the plant contained 0.63-0.70% artemisinin per dry weight, and appr oximately 40% of this artemisinin could be extracted by simple tea preparat ion methods. Five malaria patients who were treated with A. annua tea showe d a rapid disappearance of parasitaemia within 2-4 days. An additional tria l with 48 malaria patients showed a disappearance of parasitaemia in 44 pat ients (92%) within 4 days. Both trials showed a marked improvement of sympt oms. In our opinion, these results justify further examinations of the anti malarial effect of A. annua preparations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.