ARTEMISIN ANNUA

Sweet Wormwood
Damong Maria
ARTEMISIN ANNUA
Sweet worm wood

Damong Maria
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
HERB OFFERS CURE
FOR MALARIA AND
POSSIBLY CANCER!

BY KATHLEEN B. DEOUL
China has a tradition of using herbal medicine
that dates back over 2,000 years.
In 1965, Chinese military researchers began
looking at traditional herbal remedies to see
if they could find one that was effective
against the strain of Malaria endemic to
Vietnam.
In short order they hit on an herb known as
“sweet wormwood.”
Sweet wormwood had been used to treat a
variety of illnesses in China for more than two
millennia.
Normally administered as a tea, it had no
noticeable side effects and seemed quite
effective.
The Chinese military researchers were able to
isolate the active ingredient in sweet
wormwood, a substance called Artemisinin,
and to develop a simple process to extract it.
ARTEMISININ’S
EFFECTIVENESS

They found that Artemisinin was effective against all

strains of Malaria, and its therapeutic action was rapid.
In one clinical trial, it was found to destroy 95% of the
Malaria parasites in patients within twenty hours.
The fever typically accompanying a Malaria infection was
gone within eight hours.
There were no side effects.
Other studies of Artemisinin confirmed its effectiveness
and rapid action – something particularly important for
the treatment of very young children who account for
90% of all Malaria deaths.
Because sweet wormwood is easy to
cultivate and because the extraction
process to separate out the Artemisinin is
simple, it was cheap to manufacture.
In other words, it was the perfect answer to
the developing world’s Malaria pandemic.
But how does Artemisinin work?

The answer to this question may

have implications for global health
that go far beyond its
effectiveness against Malaria.
Artemisinin
Artemisinin contains a bioactive peroxide molecule.
This molecule is the key to its effectiveness against the
Malaria parasite.
Malaria grows in the body’s erythrocytes ( red blood
cells ).
Hemoglobin, a major component of red blood cells,
contains large amounts of “unbound” or free iron.
The iron plays a crucial role in the function of red blood
cells to transport oxygen throughout the body.
The peroxide molecule in Artemisinin
reacts with the iron in the red blood cells
to create free radicals that in turn
destroy the parasite’s membranes, killing
it.
This mechanism may be the reason why
Malaria parasites are unable to
develop a resistance to Artemisinin.
The belief that oxygen plays a key role in
the Artemisinin anti-malaria mechanism
has been reinforced by studies of
derivatives of the substance that do not
contain the peroxide molecule.
These were found to be ineffective
against malaria.
When other drugs such as miconazole and
doxorubicin that also generate free
radicals through an oxygen interaction
were used in conjunction with
Artemisinin, its effect was enhanced.
When substances that retard free radical
creation such as vitamin E were used in
conjunction, its effect was reduced.
In a separate study where the antioxidant
defenses of rats were manipulated, it was
discovered that those with weaker
antioxidant defenses were more resistant
to the Malaria parasite, whereas those
with enhanced antioxidant defenses were
more vulnerable to the disease.
But why is it so important that
Artemisinin transport oxygen
to cells?
The answer lies in the research of
German Nobel Laureate Otto
Warburg.
A POSSIBLE CANCER CURE?

Warburg won the Nobel Prize in 1928 for

describing the way a cancer cell
functions.
A key element of his research was to
establish that cancer cells were
“anaerobic.”
That is to say that they required an
ABSENCE of oxygen to survive.
Since 1928, countless researchers have
worked to find a way to transport oxygen
to cancer cells.
Although some researchers, such as Dr.
Keith Brewer, developed treatments
based on this principle, their discoveries
were either ignored or attacked.
But in the case of Artemisinin, the fact that it is
approved by the FDA for use in humans may
finally open the door to an oxygen-based
approach to cancer treatment.
Once a drug is approved for one purpose, it can
be prescribed by physicians to treat any
disease they deem appropriate.
This practice is called “off-label prescribing” and
is widespread within the medical community.
Soon, though, it may not be necessary to engage
in such subterfuge.
Professor Henry Lai and Assistant
Professor Narendra Singh of the
University of Washington have been
conducting in vitro experiments to
determine the effectiveness of
Artemisinin in fighting cancer.
A study concerning their research
published in the Journal Life Sciences
described how the compound killed
virtually all human breast cancer cells
exposed to it within sixteen hours.
According to Dr. Lai, “Not only does it
appear to be effective, but it’s very
selective.”
He continued “it’s highly toxic to the cancer
cells, but has a marginal impact on
normal breast cells.”
Dr. Lai has been investigating the potential
of Artemisinin in regard to treating
various types of cancer for over seven
years with consistently promising results.
He has developed a “cocktail” consisting of
holotransferrin, a substance that binds
with a cancer cells “transferring
receptors,” the part of the cell that
absorbs iron and a water soluble form of
Artemisinin.
Cancer cells normally absorb much more
iron than healthy cells.
Therefore the chemical cocktail is attracted
to the diseased cells and brings the
Artemisinin along with it.
Although full-scale human trials have not been
conducted as yet, in one animal trial, a dog
with severe bone cancer was completely cured
within five days of being given the Artemisinin
cocktail.
According to Dr. Lai, Artemisinin could open the
door to a whole new era of cancer treatment.
Patients could be given a prescription for a pill
they could take at home without the need to go
through expensive hospital-based treatments.
“That would be very easy, and this
[Artemisinin] could make that possible.
The cost is another plus – it’s very
cheap. And with millions of people who
have already taken Artemisinin for
Malaria we have a track record showing
that it’s safe.”
Dr. Lai continued “The fascinating thing is
that this was something the Chinese
used thousands of years ago. We simply
found a different application.”
The real question is not whether
Artemisinin will eventually become part of
the arsenal for fighting cancer as it has
become part of the arsenal for fighting
Malaria.
Given the amazing results of Dr. Lai’s
research, it undoubtedly will.
The real question is whether Big
Pharma and its allies in government
will make the public wait three
decades before it becomes available.
Eupatilin, a pharmacologically active flavone
derived from Artemisia plants, induces
apoptosis* in human promyelocytic leukemia
cells.
Seo HJ, Surh YJ.
College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Shinlim-dong,
Kwanak-gu, 151-742, Seoul, South Korea.

Abstract
Extracts of the whole herb of Artemisia
asiatica Nakai (Asteraceae) have been
used in traditional oriental medicine for
the treatment of inflammation, cancer
and other disorders.
  In the present work, we have
evaluated the apoptosis*-inducing
capability of eupatilin (5,7-dihydroxy-
3,4,6-trimethoxyflavone), a
pharmacologically active ingredient
of A. asiatica, in cultured human
promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60)
cells.
*ap·op·to·sis ( p p-t s s,  p -t -)n. A natural process of self-destruction in certain
cells that is determined by the genes and can be initiated by a stimulus or by
removal of a repressor agent. Also called programmed cell death.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by
Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
 ►Thus, eupatilin exhibited concentration-
dependent inhibitory effects on viability and DNA
synthesis capability of HL-60 cells.
►The anti-proliferative effect of eupatilin was
attributable to its apoptosis-inducing activity,
release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into
cytoplasm, proteolytic activation of caspases-9,
-3, and -7, and cleavage of poly(ADP-
ribose)polymerase.
►Eupatilin-induced HL-60 cell apoptosis does not
appear to be mediated via alteration in Bcl-2/Bax-
2. ►Taken
together, the above findings suggest that
eupatilin has chemopreventive and cytotoxic
effects.
 PMID: 11551495 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2005;24(4):261-9.
Eupatilin, a pharmacologically active flavone
derived from Artemisia plants, induces apoptosis
in human gastric cancer (AGS) cells.
Kim MJ, Kim DH, Na HK, Oh TY, Shin CY, Surh Ph D Professor YJ.
National Research Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention, College of Pharmacy,
Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.

Abstract

Extracts of Artemisia asiatica Nakai (Asteraceae) possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidative

activities.
Eupatilin (5,7-dihydroxy-3',4', 6-trimethoxyflavone), one of the pharmacologically active
ingredients derived from A. asiatica was shown to induce apoptosis in human
promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells.
In the present study, we examined the ability of eupatilin to induce apoptosis in human gastric
cancer (AGS) cells.
Eupatilin induced the apoptosis of AGS cells as revealed by a decrease in the ratio of pro-
apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, as well as the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-
ribose)polymerase (PARP).
The pro-apoptotic effects of eupatilin were further verified by its perturbation of the
mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim).
In addition, eupatilin treatment led to an elevated expression of p53 and p21.
Eupatilin inhibited the activation of ERK1/2 and Akt, which are important components of cell-
survival pathways.

PMID: 16393120 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

  Family • Compositae

Damong maria
Artemisia vulgaris Linn.
MAIDEN WORT, CHINESE
HONEYSUCKLE, WORMWOOD
Ai
Parts utilized: Leaves and flowers
Uses: Folkloric
 - Decoction of fresh leaves and flowering
tops, 50 g in a pint of water, 4-5 glasses
daily as expectorant.
- Juice of leaves used as vulnerary, to
heal wounds and cuts.
- As emmenagogue: A strong decoction of
leaves, 6-7 glasses a day to induce
menstruation; also, for post-partum
abdominal cramps.
- Juice of leaves applied to head of young
children during convulsions.
 - For intestinal deworming, decoction
of boiled leaves, followed by the juice
of aloe or other purgative plants.
- Decoction of leaves used for
abdominal colic pains.
- Leaf poultice for headache and skin
diseases.
- Decoction of dried leaves used for
asthma and dyspepsia.
- Juice used externally for scabies,
eczema, herpes.
 - With ginger: Pounded leaves, mixed with
ginger are wrapped in banana leaves and
heated over a fire, and applied to wounds and
swollen and inflammed dermal afflictions.
- Stimulates appetite, young leaves used for
anorexia.
Others
- Flowering tops of mugwort used by modern
dyers in the production of green dye.
-Before tobacco, leaves smoked by old people.
- Young and tender leaves used as pot herb.
- Fresh or dried plant repels insects.
 Moxa
- Fresh leaves are picked in the spring and
sun-dried, then ground to a fine powder (moxa
wool). The wool is kneaded into cones that are
buned on the skin. Sometimes, the Moxa wool
is prepared in combinationn with the powder of
other herbals.
• The burning of moxa herb sticks (compressed
dried leaves) is a treatment modality of the
acupuncturist. It is placed above the skin,
along meridians or specific acupuncture points,
mean to restore good health, energy balancing,
release of Qi - a process called Moxibustion.
• The moxibustion of mugwort has been used
in correcting breech presentation of fetuses
into cephalic orientation. Also used to cause
abortion.