PRODUCTION OF THE ANTIMALARIAL, ARTEMISININ, BY TRANSFORMED ROOTS OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA

P. Weathers, T. Smith, D. Hemmavanh, E. Follansbee, J. Ryan, R. Cheetham
Artemisinin is a potent antimalarial produced by transformed (hairy) roots of Artemisia annua. Studies were done to determine the effect of varying the strength of B5 culture media, source and level of nitrogen in the media (nitrate and ammonium), phosphate, and the phytohormone, gibberellic acid (GA3), on both biomass and artemisinin production in hairy root cultures. Preliminary results show that a 33% increase in B5 medium, an increase in nitrate, an elimination of ammonium, and addition of GA3 increase biomass yields. Artemisinin production was stimulated by regular strength B5 (with lower levels of nitrate than for maximum biomass), low levels of phosphate, and GA3.
Weathers, P., Smith, T., Hemmavanh, D., Follansbee, E., Ryan, J. and Cheetham, R. (1996). PRODUCTION OF THE ANTIMALARIAL, ARTEMISININ, BY TRANSFORMED ROOTS OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA. Acta Hortic. 426, 157-164
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.426.17
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.426.17

Acta Horticulturae