IMMUNODETECTION OF ARTEMISININ IN ARTEMISIA ANNUA CULTIVATED IN HYDROPONIC CONDITIONS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0031-9422(93)85282-V

A highly specific and sensitive ELISA method was developed for the detection and semi-quantitative determination of artemisinin and its structurally related compounds in crude extracts of Artemisia annua.The antibodies were raised in rabbity using a 10-succinyldihydroartemisinin-BSA conjugate as immunogen.The peroxide linkage in the artemisinin molecule was critical in determining antibody specifity.The working range of the assay was from 0.02 to 10 ng per assay.The cross-reacting material in crude plant extracts was evaluated by chromatographic methods combined with the immunoassay method.The distribution of artemisinin equivalents in five-week-old A. annua plants cultivated in hydroponic condition was investigated.The highest artemisinin equivalent content (1.12percent dry wt) was found in the leaves of the upper parts of the plant. Key Word Index - Artemisia annua; Asteraceae; ELISA; HPLC; hydroponics; sesquiterpenoid; deoxyartemisinin synthesis; artemisinin distribution; artemisinin.