Assessment of Artemisinin Contents in Selected <i>Artemisia</i> Species from Tajikistan (Central Asia)
Sodik Numonov,
Farukh Sharopov,
Aminjon Salimov,
Parviz Sukhrobov,
Sunbula Atolikshoeva,
Ramazon Safarzoda,
Maidina Habasi,
Haji Akber Aisa
Affiliations
Sodik Numonov
Research Institution “Chinese-Tajik Innovation Center for Natural Products” of the Tajikistan Academy of Sciences, Ayni str. 299/2, Dushanbe 734063, Tajikistan
Farukh Sharopov
Research Institution “Chinese-Tajik Innovation Center for Natural Products” of the Tajikistan Academy of Sciences, Ayni str. 299/2, Dushanbe 734063, Tajikistan
Aminjon Salimov
V.I. Nikitin Institute of Chemistry of the Tajikistan Academy of Sciences, Ayni str. 299/2, Dushanbe 734063, Tajikistan
Parviz Sukhrobov
Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Chemistry in Arid Regions, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Sunbula Atolikshoeva
Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Chemistry in Arid Regions, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Ramazon Safarzoda
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Rudaki 139, Dushanbe 734003, Tajikistan
Maidina Habasi
Research Institution “Chinese-Tajik Innovation Center for Natural Products” of the Tajikistan Academy of Sciences, Ayni str. 299/2, Dushanbe 734063, Tajikistan
Haji Akber Aisa
Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Chemistry in Arid Regions, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Background: Central Asia is the center of origin and diversification of the Artemisia genus. The genus Artemisia is known to possess a rich phytochemical diversity. Artemisinin is the shining example of a phytochemical isolated from Artemisia annua, which is widely used in the treatment of malaria. There is great interest in the discovery of alternative sources of artemisinin in other Artemisia species. Methods: The hexane extracts of Artemisia plants were prepared with ultrasound-assisted extraction procedures. Silica gel was used as an adsorbent for the purification of Artemisia annua extract. High-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection was performed for the quantification of underivatized artemisinin from hexane extracts of plants. Results: Artemisinin was found in seven Artemisia species collected from Tajikistan. Content of artemisinin ranged between 0.07% and 0.45% based on dry mass of Artemisia species samples. Conclusions: The artemisinin contents were observed in seven Artemisia species. A. vachanica was found to be a novel plant source of artemisinin. Purification of A. annua hexane extract using silica gel as adsorbent resulted in enrichment of artemisinin.
