What is artemisinin?
Artemisinin – or the Chinese name “qinqhaosu” – is derived from a plant that originates in China, commonly known as sweet wormwood. It is, therefore, a natural product. Drugs based on artemisinin – known as artemisinin-based combination therapies or ACTs – are the best treatment the world has against malaria. ACTs are one of the few effective treatments against the most serious and life-threatening form – falciparum malaria.
