Cultivo, cosecha y procesamiento poscosecha de Artemisia annua L / Growing, harvest and postharvest processing of Artemisia annua L

INTRODUCCIÓN: se presentó una revisión bibliográfica sobre Artemisia annua L, hierba utilizada tradicionalmente contra la malaria en numerosas partes del mundo. OBJETIVO: dar a conocer la importancia y características de cultivo, cosecha y procesamiento poscosecha de esta planta. MÉTODOS: se muestran los estudios realizados sobre diferentes aspectos esenciales relacionados con el procedimiento del cultivo (semilla, siembra, nutrición, algunas recomendaciones para el control de las malezas, plagas y enfermedades; del riego en el cultivo de esta especie y la cosecha) y el procesamiento poscosecha. RESULTADOS: en relación con la selección del lugar de cultivo y de la semilla utilizada, estos elementos deben ser estudiados en cada ambiente donde se vaya a introducir su cultivo. Su establecimiento mediante semillero y posterior trasplante o su siembra directa, la fecha y densidad de siembra que permitan un rápido crecimiento y desarrollo, son determinantes en el rendimiento de la masa vegetal y los principios activos. En la búsqueda de altos rendimientos de artemisinina está presente la respuesta a la nutrición y al mejoramiento genético de la planta y en cuanto a la cosecha, se hace alusión a la importancia de encontrar el momento óptimo de esta y el método adecuado, con vistas a obtener mayores volúmenes de hojas, donde están concentrados sobre todo los principios activos. En lo relativo al procesamiento poscosecha se presentan algunas investigaciones relacionadas esencialmente con el secado del material cosechado en el campo, los requerimientos básicos para la comercialización de la materia prima y las condiciones de envasado y almacenamiento. CONCLUSIONES: los elementos presentados demuestran la importancia del cultivo de esta especie medicinal

INTRODUCTION: this is a bibliographic review on Artemisia annua L, an herb traditionally used against malaria in many parts of the world. OBJECTIVE: emphasize the significance and the features of its growing, harvest and postharvest processing. METHODS: the results from the studies conducted on different essential features are showed related to growing procedure (seed, sowing, nutrition, some recommendations for the control of undergrowths, plagues and diseases, on the irrigation in growing of this species and the harvest) and post-harvest processing. RESULTS: in relation to choice of the growing place and the seed used, these elements must to be studied in each environment where its growing will be introduced. Its establishment by seedbed and subsequent transplant or its direct sowing, the sowing date and density allowing a fast growing and development, are determinant in performance of plant mass and the active principles. In the search of high performances of artemisinina are present the response to nutrition and to the plant genetic improvement and as regards the harvest we refered to the significance to find its optimal moment and the appropriate method, to obtain great leaves volumes, where are mainly concentrated the active principles. Regarding the postharvest processing there are some researches related essentially to the drying of harvested material in the field, the basic requirements for marketing of raw material and the packing and storing conditions. CONCLUSIONS: the elements presented demonstrate the growing significance of this medicinal species

New hybrid lines of the antimalarial species Artemisia annua L. guarantee its growth in Brazil

Malaria is still one of the greatest causes of mortality in the world; in Brazil there are over 500,000 reported cases each year. Malaria, caused by the protozoan Plasmodium, has been aggravated by the increasing resistance of Plasmodium to the traditional drugs chloroquine and mefloquine. The study of new drugs resulted in the identification of antimalarial activities of an endoperoxide sesquiterpene lactone, called qinghaosu or atemisinin, extracted from the leaves of Artemisinin annua L., of the Asteraceae family. The research work developed at MEDIPLANT (Switzerland) and CPQBA-UNICAPM (Brazil) involved the selection and breeding of genotypes rich in artemisinin and presenting high biomass followed by a second selection for adaptation to Brazilian climatic conditions. Through controlled hybridization between selected genotypes from China and Vietnam, genetic gain was obtained in terms of artemisinin content and population uniformity. Through the increase of biomass and artemisinin content (estimated by analytical monitoring), it was possible to increase the artemisinin production of 5 Kg/ha for the base population to approximately 25 Kg/ha for the genetically bred population. In the cultivation carried out in Brazil, 3 of 7 hybrid lines, 2/39 x 1V, Ch x Viet.55 and 1V x 2/43 produced respectively 25.43, 23.05 and 21.27 Kg of artemisinin/ha/cut, with 2 harvests possible per year. The cultivation of these new hybrid lines in Brazil is technically feasible and highly competitive, due to the production obtained.