Literature study and DNA barcoding of traditional Chinese medicine Qinghao (Artemisia annua L.) / 药学学报

ABSTRACT

The original plant of traditional Chinese medicine "Qinghao" is Artemisia annua L. in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. As a different plant, Artemisia carvifolia Buch.-Ham was called "Qinghao" in the Chinese medicine. The relationship of "Qinghao" and Artemisia carvifolia Buch.-Ham was confusion for a long time. In this paper, we summarizes the information of "Qinghao" which is listed in Chinese ancient books, and compared to the identification features of both A. annua and A. carvifolia. The results suggest that "Qinghao" in ancient time includes both A. annua and A. carvifolia. At present, the utilization value of A. annua is low because lack of resources and artemisinin, and most of scholars believe that the original plant of "Qinghao" is A. annua. Then, combined with DNA barcode technology, A. annua and A. carvifolia has been distinguished from each other based on morphological characteristics, phenological period and molecular characteristics.