title: Randomized controlled trial of a traditional preparation of Artemisia annua L. (Annual Wormwood) in the treatment of malaria.
abstract: The Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. (Annual Wormwood) contains the antimalarial compound artemisinin. The locally grown herb may offer an additional tool for the control of malaria, especially in poor countries where modern antimalarial drugs are often unavailable. In an open, randomized, controlled pilot trial, we investigated the efficacy and safety of traditional tea preparations of Artemisia annua in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Treatment resulted in a quick resolution of parasitaemia and of clinical symptoms. After 7 d of medication, cure rates were on average 74% for the Artemisia preparations compared with 91% for quinine. However, recrudescence rates were high in the Artemisia groups. Therefore, monotherapy with Artemisia annua L. cannot be recommended as alternative to modern antimalarials, but may deserve further investigation.
authors.affiliation: German Institute for Medical Mission, P.O. Box 1307, 72003 Tübingen, Germany. heide@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Markus S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Nyabuhanga
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Runyambo
authors.forename: Irmela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borrmann
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heide
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031172:Artemisia annua; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011803:Quinine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011803:Quinine