Group Seeks To Expand Access To A. Annua plant in Africa, South America
Iwerliewen Fir Bedreete Volleker, a Luxembourg-based nongovernmental organization, recently started projects in Africa and South America with the goal of increasing access to Artemisia annua, the plant from which artemisinin-based combination therapies are derived, Africa Science News Service reports. IFBV is conducting projects in Benin, Cameroon, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Peru and Togo.
A. annua is able to grow anywhere in the world, Africa Science News Service reports. It is particularly effective against malaria when it is processed into tea, according to Pierre Lutgen and Bernard Michels of IFBV. They said that recent research has shown that when A. annua is taken as tea, the compound "acts 10 times faster than conventional remedies against malaria." Lutgen and Michels added that when A. annua is taken for at least three consecutive days, it successfully treats about 100% of malaria cases.
Recent research has examined what properties cause A. annua to be so effective against malaria. The research was financed by the Rotary Club Luxembourg Vallees. Lutgen and Michels said additional research is needed to better understand how the plant works. IFBV has been working with colleagues from the Universite Catholique de Louvain, the State University of Campinas in Brazil, the Universidad de Antioquia in Colombia and the Universite de Lubumbashi. The results of their work will be examined during the Luxembourg Congress in June (Neondo, Africa Science News Service, 5/13).
