ABSTRACT
Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone containing an endoperoxide bridge obtained from a Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua L., has been demonstrated as an effective and safe alternative therapy against malaria. Artemisinin and its derivatives are found to be effective against multidrug-resistant Plasmodium sp., which is especially prevalent in Southeast Asia, South America, and more recently in Africa. The biosynthetic pathway of artemisinin belongs to the isoprenoid metabolite pathway. Dafra Pharma International NV and Plant Research International (PRI) have initiated new research to produce artemisinin via genetically modified chicory plants. A. annua L. is the main source of artemisinin, which is the most potent and efficacious antimalarial drug after quinine. Artemisinin has also been demonstrated as a selective anticancer drug. Genetic engineering of biosynthetic pathways of artemisinin has shown promising results. Because of the intricate and highly complicated metabolic networks of the artemisinin pathway in A. annua L., there are multiple rate-limiting steps in the pathway.
