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New find to help fight malaria
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A TEAM of scientists at Shanghai Jiao Tong University yesterday claimed to have developed a new breed of herbicide-resistant sweet wormwood with higher concentration of artemisinin, an extract which is widely used to make anti-malaria drugs.
Genetic technology was used to increase the key enzyme that helps the synthesis of artemisinin in the plant and reduces other enzymes that restrain its production, said Tang Kexuan, professor at Jiao Tong’s School of Agriculture and Biology and leader of the team.
Herbicide resistant genes were also introduced into the breed so that weed killer could be used in its plantation and make large-scale plantation a reality.
Artemisinin concentration in sweet wormwood plants has been increased from 0.8 percent to the level between one and 1.5 percent, while the cost of growing each kilogram will be more than halved to less than 1,000 yuan, Tang said.
A total of 200 tons of artemisinin is needed each year according to the World Health Organization.
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