Artemisia annua, known as sweet wormwood, is cultivated in Kashmir, with efforts underway to increase production due to its potential for producing artemisinin, a key ingredient in antimalarial drugs.
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| Artemisia annua in Kashmir |
Cultivation in Kashmir: Jammu and Kashmir, including the some parts of Jammu and Ladakh regions, has started cultivating Artemisia annua, a Chinese herb with antimalarial properties.
Artemisinin Production: The plant is a source of artemisinin, a compound used in the treatment of malaria, and efforts are being made to increase the yield and cultivation area of Artemisia annua in Kashmir.
Medicinal Uses: In traditional Chinese medicine, Artemisia annua is used to alleviate chills and fever, and the plant's extracts have shown antimalarial activity in primate models.
Other Artemisia species: Besides A. annua, other Artemisia species are also used by Kashmiri people as food, fumigants, and medicines.
Availability: Artemisia annua powder and dried tea are available in
Kashmir only at https://jkmpic.blogspot.com
Other Artemisia species in Kashmir: Besides A. annua, other Artemisia species like A. absinthium, A. amygdalina, A. maritime, A. roxburghiana, and A. sieversiana are also used by Kashmiri people.
Endemic Species: Some Artemisia species, like A. kargilensis, are endemic to the Himalayan region and Kashmir.
