UK scientists say they now have the knowledge to help increase the growth of the Artemisia herb – vital for malaria treatment.

Scientists at the University of York have published for the first time a genetic map of a herb that they hope will help meet the growing need for effective malaria treatments.

The Artemisia annua is a medicinal herb that when developed into Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACT) is one of the most effective drugs for treating malaria.

Plant scientists at the Centre of Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP) at the University of York say they have published the first genetic map of the herb, plotting the location on the plant’s genome of genes, traits and markers associated with high performance.

Professor Ian Graham, who has led the project alongside Professor Dianna Bowles, said: “The map is already proving to be an essential tool for us. With our new understanding of Artemisia genetics, we can produce improved, non-GM varieties of Artemisia much faster than would otherwise be possible.”

Made possible following a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the research will help small scale Artemisia growers in the developing world, primarily Africa and Asia, for whom the crop is an important source of income.

The 2009 World Malaria Report from the United Nations estimated that there were around 243 million cases of the disease in 2008 alone, resulting in the death of 863,000 people – and nearly 90% of these were in Africa.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) mosquito nets and ACT drug treatment programmes were responsible for a 50% reduction in documented malaria cases between 2000 and 2008.

“While much remains to be done, the data presented here clearly suggests that the tremendous increase in funding for malaria control is resulting in the rapid scale-up of today’s control tools,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.

“This, in turn, is having a profound effect on health, especially the health of children living in sub-Saharan Africa.” 

The report concluded that more attention needed to be given to those countries that account for the most malaria cases and deaths.