The most effective treatment against malaria is artemisinin (AN), which is extracted from Artemisia annua. Considerable differences in the content of AN and its direct precursors are found in various A. annua plants of different geographical origins. From previous studies, AN yield in the Chinese (CH) strain is consistent and high compared to the Yugoslavian (YU) strain where the yield is lower and highly variable. Two possible causes of variability of AN content in the YU strain are reactive oxygen species (ROS) and AN precursor levels which are analyzed using a simple colorimetric method and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. There was no difference in H2O2 levels in either strain; the main cause of the low AN level in the YU strain is the precursor levels.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Al Sowaimel, Lujain F.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-043009-084812

Advisor

• Wobbe, Kristin K.

Year

• 2009

Date created

• 2009-04-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2020-12-27