Artemisia annua: a New Medicinal Plant in the Egyptian Cultivation as a source for Artemisinin

This study aimed to introduce Artemisia annua L. plant to the Egyptian cultivation and to achieve the technological package for its production under Egyptian conditions. The seeds were introduced from Germany and propagated. Several experiments were carried out during two successive seasons in two different locations (clay loamy soil and sandy loam soil). The first experiment aimed to study the effect seasonal variation on growth, yield, essential oil and chemical composition using organic farming system under the Egyptian conditions. The essential oil content and essential oil yield of A. annua significantly increased with increasing plant age to reach their maximum values after 180 days from transplanting. The second experiment was carried out in loamy clay soil to study the effect of the mineral fertilization on the growth, yield and the active constituents of A. annua. The highest value of artemisinin was obtained from plants treated with 75kg N/fed + 50kg K/fed. The third experiment was carried out in loamy clay soil to study the effect of organic fertilizer and/or biofertilizer on the growth and active constituents of A. annua. The highest yield of Artemisinin was obtained from plants treated with 30m³ compost/fed. without biofertilizer followed by the application of 30m³ compost/fed. with biofertilizer. The fourth experiment was carried out to study the effect of soil type on the growth and active constituents of A. annua. Plants grown in sandy soil gave a positive increase in the essential oil yield and artemisinin content and yield. Feddan=4200m²