TITLE:
Enhancement of Artemisinin in Artemisia annua L. through Induced Mutation
AUTHORS:
Mutai Raymond, Kinyua Miriam, Kiplagat Oliver, Mutai Edwin, Kimno Stephen
KEYWORDS:
Artemisinin, Mutation, Varieties, Agronomical Traits
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.2 No.12,
December
30,
2015
ABSTRACT: Artemisia annua is the source of artemisinin, an antimalarial drug which is effective
against multidrug-resistant strains of plasmodium, the malarial parasite.
Malaria has serious effects on morbidity and mortality thus negatively
impacting on agricultural production and food security. Although artemisinin
has been found to be a useful medicine; its production is very low in comparison
with what is actually needed to treat the worldwide threat of malaria. On the
other hand, the lower content (0.01% - 0.8%, dry weight) of artemisinin found
in leaves and flowers of A. annua has seriously limited its
commercialization. Currently there are only two varieties of A. annua present in Kenya; hence there
is a need to increase its diversity. The objective of the current study was to
determine the effect of mutation on agronomical traits and artemisinin production
by parents and mutant (M2) A.
annua plants in Kenya Agricultural
and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) Njoro and the University of Eldoret
(UoE). Seeds of two varieties of Artemesia
annua varartemis and varanamed were sent to Vienna Austria for irradiation at the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) at a dosage of 150 gray. The M1 seeds were multiplied
at the University of Eldoret farm. The harvested seeds were planted in
replicate at the University of Eldoret and Njoro (KALRO). The results showed
that mutation had significant effect on agronomical traits (P-value A. annua crops was negatively
correlated with leaf traits, shoot and stem characteristics. Leaf traits had
positive correlations with shoot and stem characteristics. It is recommended
that superior lines be advanced in generations for further stability and
evaluation of its efficacy in treatment of malaria.