A LARGE-SCALE EXTRACTION TECHNIQUE OF ARTEMISININ FROM ARTEMISIA-ANNUA

An isolation method has been developed for the large scale production of artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide, from the leaves of Artemisia annua. The hexane extract of the unground dried leaves was partitioned between 20% aqueous MeCN and hexane (1:3). This partitioning step resulted in the quantitative transfer of artemisinin in the aqueous MeCN layer with concomitant reduction in the amount of material to 32-36% of the weight of the original hexane extract. Artemisinin was isolated from the aqueous MeCN fraction through chromatography on Si gel filtration columns. The method developed allowed the reuse of the recovered solvents and the chromatographic columns. Artemisinic acid and arteannuin B, two other sesquiterpenes, were also isolated.