No vegetables contain artemisinin. Artemisinin is extracted from the stems and leaves of a composite plant called Artemisia annua. It can only be obtained through physicochemical synthesis and plant purification, but both methods are complex and cumbersome.
Where Is Artemisinin Extracted From?
Artemisinin can be extracted from Artemisia annua but the plant must reach a standard content of artemisinin for extraction to be possible. Artemisia annua is an annual plant with a distinctive odor, feathered green leaves, and a blue-green color. It typically grows in shady and moist areas, such as riverbanks and valleys.
How Was Artemisinin Discovered?
The discovery of artemisinin originated in the 1960s during a project conducted by Chinese scientists to combat malaria. A team led by Tu Youyou drew inspiration from ancient Chinese medical texts and conducted research on Artemisia annua. Tu Youyou and her team successfully extracted a new antimalarial compound using a low-temperature ether extraction method, which was later named artemisinin.
What Are the Effects of Artemisinin?
Although the specific characteristics of various artemisinin derivatives may vary, they share common traits such as rapid action, high efficacy, low toxicity, and a short half-life. These features make artemisinin-based combination therapies with long-acting antimalarial drugs the ideal and recommended treatment for malaria.
Beyond malaria, artemisinin and its derivatives also show efficacy against other parasitic diseases, such as schistosomiasis.
Additionally, artemisinin can regulate inflammatory responses, alleviating inflammation caused by infections or immune-related diseases.
Artemisinin has also demonstrated potential as an anticancer agent. Some studies suggest that this compound may inhibit certain types of cancer cells.
Stanford Chemical Company (SCC) is an excellent supplier of Sodium Hyaluronate Powder and various herbal extracts. We offer artemisinin, dihydromyricetin, swertiamarin and other botanical ingredients. For more information on these materials, please check out our home page.