This interdisciplinary project explored the medicinal herb Artemisia annua in biochemical and global health contexts. In the lab, it studied the impact of the co-consumption of A. annua tea, acetaminophen, and caffeine on the function of the enzyme CYP3a4, using the Promega P450 Glo Assay. It found that acetaminophen and caffeine act as competitive inhibitors of A. annua, but are safe to co-consume at recommended dosages. The project also investigated the use of herbal remedies like A. annua in healthcare systems in China, Kenya, and the United States. It reviewed practices of herbal medicine and westernized biomedicine in these systems, then examined the history and current uses of A. annua to show how the integration of these practices can improve healthcare availability and equity.

• 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

• Togneri, Sophia

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 104591
• E-project-042423-114650

Keyword

• Health Equity
• Traditional Medicine
• Drug-Herb Interactions
• Healthcare

Advisor

• Weathers, Pamela
• Galante, John S.
• Scarlata, Suzanne Frances

Year

• 2023

Date created

• 2023-04-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Source

• E-project-042423-114650

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-06-23