The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday published guidelines for the cultivation and collection of Artemisia annua L, a traditional Chinese herb which is used to produce medicines for malaria.

"The guidelines will contribute to improving the quality of Artemisia annua L to further develop Artemisinin-based medicines, and help ensure a sustainable supply to meet market demand," the UN agency said in a statement.

Artemisia annua L, used in Chinese traditional medicine for centuries, is the source of Artemisinin that is used to produce the best medicines for malaria, the WHO said.

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have been recommended by WHO since 2001 in all countries where falciparum malaria -- the most resistant form of the disease -- is endemic.

Since then, the world market for products containing Artemisinin derivatives has grown rapidly.

However, not all Artemisinin meets the required standards to produce quality medicines, making it all the more urgent to promote best practices in the cultivation and collection of the raw material used to make the combination therapy.

The WHO guidelines on good agricultural and collection practices for Artemisia annua L provide a detailed description of the cultivation and collection techniques and measures required for a harvest to meet quality requirements, the agency said.

The information is based on research data and the practical experience of several countries where successful cultivation practices have led to a high yield of good quality Artemisia annua L, it added.

The authors of the guidelines caution governments on two fronts. First, they must ensure that farmers work with manufacturers to determine the actual market demand for the plant.

Second, they must ensure the availability of the technical skills and know-how needed to extract Artemisinin from dried leaves.

The WHO monograph also aims to provide a model for countries and researchers to develop further monographs on good agricultural and collection practices for other medicinal plants, and promote the sustainable use of the plant as part of the larger aim of protecting the wild resources of medicinal plants.

Source: Xinhua