ABSTRACT
Malaria remained a major scourge of mankind until the Chinese introduced artemisinin to the world as a remedy to this disease. Following the discovery of artemisinin as an antimalarial drug, treatments containing an artemisinin derivative have been standardized for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria worldwide. Artemisia species effect decreases in lipid levels similar to those obtained with statins. Artemisinin, a compound extracted from Artemisia, is of great importance for its different therapeutic and antimalarial activities. Artemisia extracts can be envisaged as anti-hypertensives and cardiovascular protectants. In vitro experimental study shows the inhibition of digestive vacuole proteolytic activity in the malaria parasite by artemisinin. A. annua L. has been used for over two millennia in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of complaints—from skin disorders to high blood pressure and malaria. A. annua has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
