| abstract |
[PROBLEMS] To develop a rapid, safe and economical method for isolating artemisinin, an antimalarial drug, from Artemisia annua. The present invention provides a method for isolating artemisinin, an antimalarial drug, from a herb of Artemisia annua. This method involves extracting the herb, preferably a dry powdered herb, with ethanol, partitioning the extract between water and hexane, followed by evaporation of artemisinin from the hexane phase to obtain pure artemisinin. Process. In the above distribution step, the aqueous ethanol extract is preferably distributed to hexane in a ratio of 1: 1 or 2: 1. |