Sweet wormwood

Sweet Wormwood (also known as Artemisia annua) is a herbaceous plant species in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Asia, but can be found in many other parts of the world due to its cultivation for medicinal purposes.

Description

Sweet Wormwood is an annual, aromatic herb that grows up to 2 meters in height. It has fern-like leaves, bright yellow flowers, and a camphor-like scent. Its parts are used for the extraction of Artemisinin, a drug used for the treatment of malaria.

Cultivation

Sweet Wormwood prefers a warm climate and well-drained soil. It is usually sown in the spring and harvested in the early fall. The plant is drought-resistant and can be grown in poor soil conditions.

Uses

The primary use of Sweet Wormwood is in the production of Artemisinin, a drug that is effective against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Artemisinin is often used in combination with other antimalarial drugs to increase its effectiveness and reduce the risk of resistance.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sweet Wormwood is known as qing hao and has been used for over 2,000 years to treat various ailments, including fevers and malaria.

Research

Research into the medicinal properties of Sweet Wormwood is ongoing. Studies have shown that Artemisinin can also be effective against certain types of cancer cells. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential of this plant in medicine.

See also

• Artemisinin
• Malaria
• Traditional Chinese Medicine