Potential Ecological Roles of Artemisinin Produced by Artemisia annua L.

Abstract

Artemisia annua L. (annual wormwood, Asteraceae) and its secondary metabolite artemisinin, a unique sesquiterpene lactone with an endoperoxide bridge, has gained much attention due to its antimalarial properties. Artemisinin has a complex structure that requires a significant amount of energy for the plant to synthesize. So, what are the benefits to A. annua of producing this unique compound, and what is the ecological role of artemisinin? This review addresses these questions, discussing evidence of the potential utility of artemisinin in protecting the plant from insects and other herbivores, as well as pathogens and competing plant species. Abiotic factors affecting the artemisinin production, as well as mechanisms of artemisinin release to the surroundings also are discussed, and new data are provided on the toxicity of artemisinin towards soil and aquatic organisms. The antifungal and antibacterial effects reported are not very pronounced. Several studies have reported that extracts of A. annua have insecticidal effects, though few studies have proven that artemisinin could be the single compound responsible for the observed effects. However, the pathogen(s) or insect(s) that may have provided the selection pressure for the evolution of artemisinin synthesis may not have been represented in the research thus far conducted. The relatively high level of phytotoxicity of artemisinin in soil indicates that plant/plant allelopathy could be a beneficial function of artemisinin to the producing plant. The release routes of artemisinin (movement from roots and wash off from leaf surfaces) from A. annua to the soil support the rationale for allelopathy.

Natural Products as Source of Therapeutics against Parasitic Diseases

“…These antibiotic natural product derivatives weaken the adult worms by killing their bacterial symbionts (Wolbachia spp.) on which they depend in order to survive.New bacteriaderived antibiotics,s uch as corallopyronin A ( 9), are on the horizon to specifically target the obligate endosymbionts of parasitic worms. [8] Thed iscoveries of artemisinin and avermectin and their development into effective medicines are eminent examples of the therapeutic value of natural products.Considering the unthinkable misery caused by parasites,o ne may consider these potent remedies as gifts from nature.Y et, their ecological roles and original biological functions are still am atter of debate.…”

“…[8] Thed iscoveries of artemisinin and avermectin and their development into effective medicines are eminent examples of the therapeutic value of natural products.Considering the unthinkable misery caused by parasites,o ne may consider these potent remedies as gifts from nature.Y et, their ecological roles and original biological functions are still am atter of debate. [9] Finally,i ts hould not be forgotten that there are many other parasitic infections,f or example,b y Leishmania and Trypanosoma spp., the causative agents of leishmaniosis and Chagas disease,respectively.Again, natural products are an important source of drugs against these pathogens.…”

Chemical defense against insects in Heterotheca subaxillaris and three Orobanchaceae species using exudates from trichomes

“…Asteraceae species are known to produce various biologically active compounds, such as sesquiterpene lactones, including the most famous biologically active natural product artemisinin, which is also metabolized from cadinenes in glandular trichome cells of annual wormwood ( Artemisia annua L.) and play a role in herbivore resistance . Additionally, parthenolide is produced in glandular trichomes of feverfew ( Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.…”

Three-Dimensional Evaluation on Ecotypic Diversity of Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Case Study of Artemisia annua L.

“…Artemisia annua L. (sweet or annual wormwood, member of Asteraceae family) is the only plant that synthesizes and accumulates artemisinin (Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2015; Su and Miller, 2015). A. annua is native of Asia, and now it is widely dispersed throughout the world, including America, Australia, Africa, Bulgaria, France, Argentina, Spain and Hungary (Knudsmark Jessing et al, 2014). The plant has been established as crop in agriculture after the statement of WHO, as a valuable component of combinatorial therapy for malaria (Ferreira, 2007).…”