Biomass and artemisinin production of Artemisia annua L. on several altitudes

Abstract

Increasing supply of artemisinin as a multipurpose medicinal compound, especially to cope with malaria, is a global problem that should be solved immediately. This research aimed to obtain high artemisinin production from Artemisia annua L. cultivated at a suitable altitude at Bengkulu Province of Indonesia. Experimental design used was a Split Plot in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications, altitude (1000, 1100 and 1200 m above sea level altitudes each located at Sukasari, Bandung Baru, and Tangsi Duren, Kepahyang District Province Bengkulu of Indonesia) as main plot and bio-fertilizer application (control, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and phosphate solubilizer fungi) as subplot. Each experimental unit received 10 ton ha -1 of cowdung. Research result shows that altitude significantly affects artemisinin, essential oil, mycorrhizal and phosphate solubilizer fungus population, but not affect biomass production. Overall, Artemisia annua L. was successfully planted at the 1000 - 1200 m above sea level. Biomass and artemisinin production was higher compared to another experiment, i.e. 350 g per plant with 0.21 - 0.43% of artemisinin content.