China News Agency, Chongqing, October 5th, title: Artemisia annua grass is both suitable for curing diseases and becoming rich in Wuling
Author Liang Qinqing Wang Yu
"Artemisinin - a gift from traditional Chinese medicine to the world." Tu Youyou, who won the Nobel Prize, said in a speech in Sweden in 2015.
Artemisia annua, also known as Artemisia annua, has green leaves and pale yellow flowers. It is the raw material for the extraction of artemisinin.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of artemisinin.
The picture shows on September 6, farmers are sorting out the artemisia grass after drying.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhou Yi
Data from the World Health Organization shows that since the introduction of artemisinin as the first-choice antimalarial drug in 2000, this "Oriental medicine" has saved millions of lives around the world, especially in the Sahara, where malaria is the most severe. In sub-Africa, about 240 million people benefit from artemisinin combination therapy.
The picture shows that on September 7, in the cultivation base of new varieties of Artemisia annua in Youyang County, large areas of Artemisia annua are flourishing.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhou Yi
Located in the hinterland of Wuling Mountains, Chongqing Youyang County is very suitable for the growth of Artemisia annua. The production of Artemisia annua accounts for 80% of the global output, and it is known as the "Artemisia annua capital of the world".
At present, the artemisinin content in the main cultivars of Youyang Artemisia annua is generally around 15.0‰, and the highest is 25.0‰, which is the highest in the world.
Focusing on Artemisia annua, a treasure of traditional Chinese medicine, Youyang County adopts the "company + farmer" order production model, basically forming an operation mode in which the company supplies seeds, provides services, farmers voluntarily plant, and the order guarantees the reserve price recovery, forming a distinctive artemisinin industry. .
The picture shows that on September 7, in the cultivation base of new varieties of Artemisia annua in Youyang County, large areas of Artemisia annua are flourishing.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhou Yi
As of 2022, the artemisia annua industry has spread across 15 townships and 57 villages in Youyang County, involving 26 enterprises and more than 9,600 growers, with a planting area of 68,000 mu and an annual output of more than 9,000 tons of Artemisia annua.
Ran Maozhen, a villager in Lingkou Village, Cangling Town, Youyang County, was disabled in her left hand since she was a child, unable to do heavy work.
"Since I started planting Artemisia annua four years ago, I have no worries about food and shelter, and I have hope for life. Everyone says that our hometown is beautiful." She said that before, she only knew that Artemisia annua could be used to stop bleeding from nosebleeds, but she didn't know that Artemisia annua was developed. Medicines can help so many people.
This year, my family has planted another 5 acres of Artemisia annua, which is expected to sell for more than 8,000 yuan.
Entering the cultivation base of new varieties of Artemisia annua in Youyang County, a large piece of Artemisia annua is growing vigorously.
The picture shows on September 7, a local pharmaceutical company displayed the processed artemisinin and its preparations.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhou Yi
Luo Xiaojiang, deputy general manager of Kunming Pharmaceutical Group Chongqing Wulingshan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., introduced that this base is mainly responsible for breeding and screening. There are currently 28 different varieties of Artemisia annua, and the artemisinin content has increased from 6.0‰ to about 15.0‰. It is planning to develop more drought-tolerant and adaptable varieties of Artemisia annua.”
The artemisinin produced by the company is mainly exported to India, Europe and other countries and regions, and part of it is donated to Africa in the form of international aid.
Today, Artemisia annua has also been discovered for a wider range of uses.
The picture shows the artemisia annua planter Ran Maozhen showing the dried and crushed Artemisia annua on September 6.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhou Yi
Wu Tinghe, head of the Youyang Comprehensive Experiment Station of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry Technology System, introduced that Youyang County is currently setting up an Artemisia annua Research Institute and building an Artemisia annua museum. Artemisia annua ointment, Artemisia annua feed, Artemisia annua health products, etc., and actively explore the downstream industry chain.
Among them, Artemisia annua ointment is very popular in Uganda, Ethiopia and other countries.
"Since the flood in Pakistan in July this year, the local area has ordered hundreds of boxes of Qinghao ointment for post-disaster treatment." (End)