title: Mapping the potential distribution of high artemisinin-yielding Artemisia annua L. (Qinghao) in China with a geographic information system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Artemisia annua L. is an important source for artemisinin, a potent drug for treating malaria. This study aims to map and predict the potential geographic distribution of A. annua L. in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Geographic Information System for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM-GIS) was developed and used to map the potential geographic distribution of A. annua L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Climatic, edaphic and topographic characteristics of A. annua L. microhabitats in Youyang County were mapped to find distribution patterns. The maps identified that certain habitats in the Chongqing region and some potential regions, especially in Guizhou Province, possess similarity indices of >/=98%. In particular, high quality microhabitats A. annua L. were found in the Wuling mountains region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates a GIS approach to predict potential habitats for A. annua L. TCM-GIS is a powerful tool for assessing bioclimatic suitability for medicinal plants.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China. slchen@implad.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Linfang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Caixiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Baozhong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Shilin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
references.citation: Plant Sci. 2000 Jun 29;155(2):179-185
references.pmid: 10814821
references.citation: Int J Oncol. 2001 Apr;18(4):767-73
references.pmid: 11251172
references.citation: Planta Med. 1986 Oct;(5):387-90
references.pmid: 17345348
references.citation: J Nat Prod. 1984 Jul-Aug;47(4):715-7
references.pmid: 6387056
references.citation: Planta Med. 1988 Oct;54(5):475-6
references.pmid: 17265330
references.citation: Plant Mol Biol. 1997 Jan;33(2):199-209
references.pmid: 9037139
references.citation: Science. 1985 May 31;228(4703):1049-55
references.pmid: 3887571
references.citation: Planta Med. 1994 Jun;60(3):272-5
references.pmid: 17236047
references.citation: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2008 Apr;33(7):741-5
references.pmid: 18589767
references.citation: Zhong Yao Cai. 2006 Mar;29(3):242-5
references.pmid: 16850722