Historic publication in JAMA
On 26 March 2025, the prestigious international scientific journal JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) has published a compelling article arguing that Artemisia annua, in its whole-plant form, may offer a more effective and sustainable response to antimalarial drug resistance than current artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).
The study “Artemisinin Partial Resistance in Ugandan Children” responds to alarming cases of artemisinin partial resistance emerging in Uganda due to Pfkelch13 mutations. While monotherapies are vulnerable to resistance, the authors argue that Artemisia annua’s complex chemical composition—containing up to 10 antiparasitic compounds—makes it more robust and evolution-resilient.
Key Highlights
- In rodents with induced resistance to pure artemisinin, Artemisia annua eliminated parasites.
- In the DRC, patients unresponsive to ACTs recovered after oral intake of dried Artemisia annua leaves.
- Even Artemisia afra, a species with no artemisinin, showed efficacy against multiple malaria stages.
No evidence supports the claim that Artemisia annua use in Africa promotes resistance—on the contrary.
Authored by three leaders in the field
– Prof. Pamela Weathers (Institut polytechnique de Worcester, États-Unis)
– Prof. Stephen Rich (Université du Massachusetts Amherst, États-Unis)
– Prof. Dominique Mazier (Sorbonne Université, France)
This is a milestone publication that further justifies the urgency of gathering the global Artemisia research community.
