Traditional plant medicine has a long history, and plant-based medicines have largely contributed to Western health and medicine. Natural product insiderfirst recently reported the results of a botanic study, in which Artemisia annua was selected as the best herbal candidate against SARS-CoV-2.
There are two common forms of Artemisia, also known as wormwood. These are Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia annua.2 However, while they belong to the same genus, they are distinctly different plants. Artemisia vulgaris is a moderately poisonous plant native to North Africa and Eurasia. Artemisia annua is known as sweet wormwood and is native to Asia.
The species belongs to the largest flowering plant family, the Asteraceae. The plant is suitable for temperate climates and has a strong aroma from the terpenoids common to the tree. It is a sunny annual and grows well in temperatures between 68 degrees F (F) and 77 degrees F.3
Artemisia has been studied for the treatment of glucose intolerance, HIV infection, pollen allergy, obesity, malaria, and to treat certain cancers.4 More recently, researchers have explored the antiviral properties of artemisia for the treatment of COVID-19.
Promising results with Artemisia Annua against COVID-19
Researchers from the Southwest College of Natural Medicine in Tempe, Arizona, tested 30 herbs for the effect they might have on the virus that causes COVID-19 symptoms.5 The researchers extracted the compounds using a 70% ethanol solvent and identified the artemisinin metabolite from more than 600 secondary metabolites in Artemisia annua.
Johanne Gerstel, Ph.D., a researcher at the Ric Scalzo Institute, said of the results,6 “We know there is activity that is inhibiting the growth of the virus. We have a novel and widespread compound that works against this coronavirus. “
According to the Natural Products Insider article, the researchers first identified sweet wormwood as a potential option against COVID-19 and then tested different ethanol extracts to determine which ones were active. positive. Solvents were also tested for artemisinin metabolites that were effective against the virus.7
This is not the first study to determine that artemisinin affects the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A recent review of the material8 obtained from online databases, such as PubMed, NCBI, ResearchGate and Google Scholar, suggest that Artemisia has antiviral and immunostimulating potential against SARS-CoV-2.
Several African countries have anecdotal evidence that plant extracts have helped control COVID-19 symptoms in populations.9 There have been several studies showing that artemisinin has a promising role in virus suppression.
In addition, the plant is high in zinc, gallium and selenium. Zinc is known to prevent viral replication in cells; gallium reduces forms of cytokines that increase inflammatory responses; and selenium regulate the concentration of CD4 lymphocytes.
Further demonstration of anti-virus activity
A collaborative effort between researchers at Columbia University, the University of Washington, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute demonstrated that a hot water extract of Artemisia annua has antiviral activity against SARS-CoV- 2.ten The extracts were tested on viruses propagated in human cells.
The researchers used extracts from four different continents, all of which demonstrated antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Research published in June 2021 found that Artemisia’s hot water extract prevented viral replication, including two new variants.11
Although it did not appear to block virus entry into cells, the extract reduced the inflammatory response and prevented infection after entry. Also, in this study, extract from a dried leaf sample over 12 years old was still effective.
The data reveal that the concentration can be changed almost 100-fold and still be effective in cell studies. In an interview with Spectrum News 1, one of the researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute said:twelfth
“It’s very important right now, because we don’t have a therapy, and it looks like this could be a therapy and very easy to implement globally to help us control this terrible virus pandemic. when you see it ravaging India.”
However, it is important to note that there have been several therapies that have shown great promise in treating COVID-19, including ivermectin,13,14 hydroxychloroquine with zinc,15,16,17 and maintain optimal vitamin D levels to reduce the likelihood of infection and reduce disease severity.18,19,20
Until now, researchers are still trying to determine the mechanism of action of artemisinin against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There has been some evidence that it inhibits enzyme activity and stimulates adaptive immunity that targets viruses and modulates proinflammatory cytokines.21
Does WHO recommend Artemisia?
Chinese scientists first pioneered the discovery of the malaria-fighting Artemisia annua plant in the 1970s.22 Currently, WHO recommends artemisinin-based therapies against malaria,23 especially since the development of chloroquine resistance. Drug-resistant parasites have repeatedly shortened the ability of new drugs to fight malaria.
Artemisinin is currently only used in combination with other antimalarials to help prevent monotherapy resistance.24 Increased access to artemisinin-based combination therapies is believed to have been a key factor in reducing malaria deaths over the past 15 years.25
In August 2021, the World Health Organization26 announced that it will be testing three new drugs in the next phase of the Solidarity trial. Funded by WHO, the Solidarity trials aim to study possible drugs for people hospitalized with severe COVID.27 The drugs approved in August were artesunate, imatinib and infliximab. Each drug is approved for use in other health conditions. Artesunate is an artemisinin derivative and is currently used in the treatment of malaria.
Imatinib is used in the treatment of cancer and infliximab is prescribed for immune system conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease. According to WHO, artemisinin has been widely used for the past 30 years in the treatment of malaria and other parasitic diseases.
The drug is considered very safe, and the Therapeutic Advisory Group has recommended the evaluation of artesunate for its anti-inflammatory properties.28 In the final phase of the Solidarity trial, WHO tested remdesivir, which it found had little or no effect on survival.
According to BBC,29 The drug’s maker Gilead denied the findings and, in a statement, said the results were “inconsistent” and that it was a “relevant” result that has yet to be reviewed. The four drugs have been tested in 500 hospitals in more than 30 countries. As of August 2021, BBC reports30 WHO says there is no evidence that products derived from Artemisia are effective against COVID-19.
Artemisia Annua was examined during the 2003 SARS outbreak
Long before COVID-19, researchers had isolated a group of compounds in sweet wormwood that had anti-cancer effects, schistosomiasis, and malaria.thirty first More recently, it has been found that the plant is biologically active against several viruses such as cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C, and members of the herpes family, including herpes virus type 1 and Epstein-Barr .32
After the SARS outbreak in 2003, researchers began to evaluate the effectiveness of various Chinese medicinal herbs against the virus.33 Four extracts showed promise, including Artemisia annua.
Building on this and other research, scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Germany collaborated with scientists at Freie Universität Berlin to carry out laboratory studies evaluating bioactive compounds. study in plants against SARS-CoV-2. Peter H. Seeberger, one of the two scientists overseeing the study, commented:34
“After working with compounds derived from the A. annua plant, I became familiar with the plant’s exciting activities against a wide variety of diseases, including a wide range of viruses. So, We felt that it was worthwhile to explore the activity of this plant against COVID-19.
Seeberger is also encouraged by the international collaboration as scientists work together to find compounds that could improve the treatment and management of people with COVID-19. He say:35
“Given the encouraging results of Chinese colleagues in 2005 and the similarities between the new virus and the virus that causes SARS, plant extracts and artemisinin derivatives need to be tested as quickly as possible. This international cooperation makes this possible”.
After demonstrating resistance to the virus in the lab, the researchers turned to testing sweet wormwood in a human trial. They used a seed line made by ArtemiLife Inc. come from Kentucky developed. The researchers found that when the compounds were extracted from this line, they demonstrated the strongest antiviral activity.
Klaus Osterrieder from Freie Universität Berlin conducted active tests in which they found that using Artemisia’s ethanolic extract and coffee gave the best results. When tested alone, artemisinin did not show much antiviral activity. Osterrieder found remarkable results:36
“I was surprised to find that extracts from A. annua behaved significantly better than pure artemisinin derivatives and that the addition of coffee enhanced the activity further.”
The UK conducted human trials in late 2020 in partnership with the University of Kentucky to test the effectiveness of Kentucky-grown Artemisia annua.37 In January 2021, US-based Mateon Therapeutics partnered with Indian supplement maker Windlas Biotech and announced a clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of a supplement. other artemisinins.38,39
The trial is using a supplement capsule containing 500 mg of purified artemisinin against COVID-19. It was marked as completed on September 9, 2021, but the results are yet to be announced. If successful, these trials could mean the discovery of a COVID-19 treatment that meets multiple criteria. These include being widely available, relatively inexpensive, effective, and with a known safety record.40
