In the Jan. 15 issue of the leading journal Science, USF College of Public Health malaria expert Wilbur Milhous, PhD, comments on a promising new development to fast-track production of the natural anti-malarial compound artemisinin.

Dr. Milhous co-authors the perspectives article “The Botanical Solution for Malaria” with colleague Peter Weina of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in this special issue of Science covering innate immunity. They comment on a report by Ian Graham and colleagues at the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, University of York, United Kingdom. The paper by Graham et al. describes the genetic map for Artemisia annua and identifies key locations that could improve breeding of this plant from which the drug artemisinin is derived.

For generations, Chinese herbalists have used the plant’s leaves to treat several illnesses, including malaria, and today’s synthetic versions of artemisinin remain the most effective compounds for combating malaria. However, a major obstacle to using artemisinin to treat malaria, estimated to cause more than 1 million deaths each year, has been producing enough of the life-saving drug to meet world demand.

The anti-malarial compound artemisinin is derived from the leaves of the plant Artemisia annua.

Now the work by Graham and his colleagues should allow selective breeding of the plant Artemisia annua, for highly desirable genetic traits “that could improve agricultural yields, decrease production costs, ensure a steady supply of the drug, and improve grower confidence in the crop,” Dr. Milhous and Weina write.

The perspectives article highlights U.S. involvement in the discovery and FDA approval of artemisinin. Potential lack of resistance to other drugs and a somewhat lengthy process to synthesize the final drug have hampered production of more effective artemisinin compounds.

So far the most promising strategy for future production rests with “innovative horticultural technologies,” Milhous and Weina conclude. “The result of Graham et al. has placed us on that track. The next big hurdle for this molecule will be emerging resistance to the drug.”

RELATED STORY:
Dr. Milhous receives top award for malaria expertise