[Influence of the amount and type of nitrogen on the artemisinin production of Artemisia annua L.]
1996
Magalhaes, P. (Universite de Campinas, Campinas (Brazil)) | Raharinaivo, J. | Delabays, N.
At present the cultivation of Artemisia annua is the only way to produce artemisinin, a sesquiterpene endoperoxyde with very potent antimalarial properties synthesised by the plant. In the process of domestication of new species nitrogen fertilisation plays a crucial factor. Our trials showed a positive reaction of the plant to nitrogen applications, with enhanced biomass production, especially in the leaves. Parallely the artemisinin content in the leaves tended to decrease with higher nitrogen applications. The optimum supply is about 70-80 kg of nitrogen per hectare, with which an increase of the artemisinin production by about 50 % was achieved. In the field no significant differences have been observed between the application of two types of nitrogen (ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate), but in hydroponic culture nutritive solutions with a large proportion of nitrates revealed more beneficial for the artemisinin production
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