Abstract
BackgroundArtemisia annua L. is an important source for artemisinin, a potent drug for treating malaria. This study aims to map and predict the potential geographic distribution of A. annua L. in China.MethodsThe Geographic Information System for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM-GIS) was developed and used to map the potential geographic distribution of A. annua L.ResultsClimatic, edaphic and topographic characteristics of A. annua L. microhabitats in Youyang County were mapped to find distribution patterns. The maps identified that certain habitats in the Chongqing region and some potential regions, especially in Guizhou Province, possess similarity indices of ≥98%. In particular, high quality microhabitats A. annua L. were found in the Wuling mountains region.ConclusionThe present study demonstrates a GIS approach to predict potential habitats for A. annua L. TCM-GIS is a powerful tool for assessing bioclimatic suitability for medicinal plants.
Highlights
Artemisia annua L. is an important source for artemisinin, a potent drug for treating malaria
While low coefficient of variation (CV) values for relative humidity (RH) (CV: 0.33), total annual precipitation (TAP) (1.28), annual sunshine time (AST) (3.33), average temperature in July (ATJU) (4.60), annual temperature (AAT) (4.69), average temperature in August (ATA) (6.23), average temperature in June (ATJ) (6.77) and average temperature in May (ATMA) (6.81) suggested that these could be the major limiting factors affecting the distribution of high quality A. annua L., high CV values for AL (29.79), average temperature in January (ATJA) (21.46) and average temperature in February (ATF) (21.43) suggested otherwise
According to the CV values, weighting value for each parameter was divided into levels I (0.15), II (0.08), III (0.06) and IV
Summary
Artemisia annua L. is an important source for artemisinin, a potent drug for treating malaria. This study aims to map and predict the potential geographic distribution of A. annua L. in China. A. annua L. is the only natural botanical source for artemisinin (Qinghaosu) [2,3] and a potential source for essential oils for the perfume industry [4]. A. annua L. is cultivated in China, Vietnam, India, Romania, Kenya and Tanzania [5]. Artemisinin, an endoperoxide sesquiterpene lactone in the aerial parts of A. annua L., is more efficacious, faster and less toxic than chloroquine in treating malaria. Wild or cultivated A. annua L. is a major source for artemisinin [2,3,12]
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