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Medicinal Plants Week Mightier than Malaria
14 May 2013

Mightier than Malaria

This botanical superhero has saved the lives of millions of people around the world. The leaves of the plant sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua, seen here using an electron microscope) are covered with glandular hairs, known as trichomes, which secrete artemisenin – the most effective drug for treating malaria. Malaria kills over half a million people (mainly children) each year and affects millions more. It’s caused by a parasite that is spread via mosquito bites. Artemisenin, first identified by screening Chinese traditional medicines, rapidly clears the parasite from the body. Researchers worldwide are focussed on establishing cheaper and more reliable sources of the drug. Selective breeding is helping to create plant varieties with higher yields, and some genes involved in artemisenin synthesis have been spliced into yeast. Although the parasite is beginning to evolve artemisenin resistance, this plant is still a lifeline for millions.

Written by Sarah McLusky

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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