Scientists Discover Gene that Doubles Artemisinin Production in Artemisia annua Plant

摘要

The plant Artemisia annua has been used for more than 2,000 years in traditional Chinese medicine to treat intermittent fevers. The artemisinin molecule - the active ingredient synthesised in this plant's trichomes - is the main component of malaria treatments worldwide. But the low content produced by the plant and the high cost of its chemical synthesis result in a scarce and costly drug. An international team of researchers led by the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) and Sequentia Biotech S.L. has been able to obtain, through genetic engineering, Artemisia annua plants that produce twice as much artemisinin.