{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,20]],"date-time":"2026-10-20T14:49:20Z","timestamp":1792507760750,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]],"date-time":"2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738022400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Acad\u00e9mie de Recherche et d\u2019Enseignement Sup\u00e9rieur (ARES-CCD)","award":["PRD-PFS 2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PRD-PFS 2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In Cameroon, like in other African countries, infusions of Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua are widely used for the management of health-related problems, including malaria. The secondary metabolite contents of medicinal plants vary between different geographical regions and seasons, directly influencing their effectiveness in treating ailments. This study explores the phytochemical diversity and anti-plasmodial potential of A. annua and A. afra from distinct geographical locations within Cameroon, aiming to define the optimal chemical composition in terms of anti-plasmodial activity. Extracts were prepared from plants collected from diverse regions in Cameroon during both the rainy and dry seasons, and their metabolic contents were analyzed using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Gas Chromatography (GC). Their anti-plasmodial potential was assessed on a chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 Plasmodium falciparum strain. Additionally, the environmental parameters of the collecting sites were retrieved from multispectral satellite imagery. The activity profiles of the samples were associated with their environment, with distinct phytochemical compositions observed for each sample based on its geographical origin and season. Traces of artemisinin were detected in some of the A. afra samples, but it was present in the A. annua samples at a significantly higher concentration, especially in the rainy season samples (highest concentration in the Adamawa region, at 8.9% m\/m artemisinin in the dry extract). Both plants are active at different levels, with A. annua more active due to the presence of artemisinin and A. afra probably active due to the presence of polyphenols. Both season and geographical location influence both plants\u2019 metabolic contents and hence their antimalaria activity. These findings suggest that the selection of a suitable Artemisia sample for use as a potential antimalarial treatment should take into consideration its geographical origin and the period of collection.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules30030596","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,29]],"date-time":"2025-01-29T03:26:10Z","timestamp":1738121170000},"page":"596","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra from Different Geographical Locations in Cameroon"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"30","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-7851-559X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lahngong M.","family":"Shinyuy","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Li\u00e8ge, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"},{"name":"Laboratory of Pharmacochemical and Natural Pharmaceutical Substances, Doctoral Training Unit in Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala P.O. Box 2701, Cameroon"},{"name":"Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory (MCBL), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 063, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gis\u00e8le E.","family":"Loe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Pharmacochemical and Natural Pharmaceutical Substances, Doctoral Training Unit in Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala P.O. Box 2701, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Olivia","family":"Jansen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Li\u00e8ge, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4052-6336","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Allison","family":"Ledoux","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Li\u00e8ge, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2762-4334","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Benjamin","family":"Palmaerts","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Remote Sensing and Geodata Unit, Institut Scientifique de Service Public (ISSeP), 4000 Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"L\u00facia","family":"Mamede","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Li\u00e8ge, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Naima","family":"Boussif","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Li\u00e8ge, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0350-6640","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Olivier","family":"Bonnet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Li\u00e8ge, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bertin S.","family":"Enone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD), Department of Analytical, Applied Chemometrics and Molecular Modeling (FABI), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit of Brussel, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sandra F.","family":"Noukimi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Embryology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Universit\u00e9 Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abenwie S.","family":"Nchang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPID), Institute de Recherche Exp\u00e9rimentale et Clinique (IREC), Public Health School, Universit\u00e9 Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kristiaan","family":"Demeyer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD), Department of Analytical, Applied Chemometrics and Molecular Modeling (FABI), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit of Brussel, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3720-7331","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Annie","family":"Robert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPID), Institute de Recherche Exp\u00e9rimentale et Clinique (IREC), Public Health School, Universit\u00e9 Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3459-6554","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stephen M.","family":"Ghogomu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory (MCBL), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 063, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1526-4431","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jacob","family":"Souopgui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Embryology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Universit\u00e9 Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eric","family":"Hallot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Remote Sensing and Geodata Unit, Institut Scientifique de Service Public (ISSeP), 4000 Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0770-9990","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Michel","family":"Frederich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Li\u00e8ge, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO) (2024, November 13). World Malaria Report 2022 [Internet]. Available online: https:\/\/www.wipo.int\/amc\/en\/mediation\/."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Eyong, E.M., Etutu, S.J.M., Jerome, F.C., Nyasa, R.B., Kwenti, T.E., and Moyeh, M.N. (2022). Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 and 3 gene deletion in the Mount Cameroon region (2022). IJID Reg., 3.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijregi.2022.05.006"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"770","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jnatprod.9b01285","article-title":"Natural Products as Sources of New Drugs over the Nearly Four Decades from 01\/1981 to 09\/2019","volume":"83","author":"Newman","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Nat. Prod."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Barbara, M., Willem, S., and World Health Organization (2011). The World Medicines Situation 2011: Access to Controlled Medicines, World Health Organization. Available online: https:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/handle\/10665\/78334."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"812","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sajb.2011.08.011","article-title":"The potential of South African plants in the development of new medicinal products","volume":"77","year":"2011","journal-title":"South Afr. J. Botany."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1049","DOI":"10.1126\/science.3887571","article-title":"Qinghaosu (Artemisinin): An Antimalarial Drug from China","volume":"228","author":"Klayman","year":"1985","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ashraf, K., Tajeri, S., Arnold, C.-S., Amanzougaghene, N., Franetich, J.-F., Vantaux, A., Soulard, V., Bordessoulles, M., Cazals, G., and Bousema, T. (2022). Artemisinin-independent inhibitory activity of Artemisia sp. infusions against different Plasmodium stages including relapse-causing hypnozoites. Life Sci. Alliance, 5, Available online: https:\/\/www.life-science-alliance.org\/content\/5\/3\/e202101237.","DOI":"10.26508\/lsa.202101237"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jep.2017.03.021","article-title":"Antiplasmodial activity of Mezoneuron benthamianum leaves and identification of its active constituents","volume":"203","author":"Jansen","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Ethnopharmacol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Snider, D., and Weathers, P.J. (2021). In vitro reduction of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes: Artemisia spp. tea infusions vs. artemisinin. J. Ethnopharmacol., 268.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jep.2020.113638"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sajb.2008.11.001","article-title":"Artemisia afra: A potential flagship for African medicinal plants?","volume":"75","author":"Liu","year":"2009","journal-title":"South Afr. Bot."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"du Toit, A., and van der Kooy, F. (2019). Artemisia afra, a controversial herbal remedy or a treasure trove of new drugs?. J. Ethnopharmacol., 244.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jep.2019.112127"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moyo, P., Kunyane, P., Selepe, M.A., Eloff, J.N., Niemand, J., Louw, A.I., Maharaj, V.J., and Birkholtz, L.-M. (2019). Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of gametocytocidal compounds from Artemisia afra (Asteraceae). Malar. J., 18, Available online: https:\/\/malariajournal.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12936-019-2694-1.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-019-2694-1"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Soni, R., Shankar, G., Mukhopadhyay, P., and Gupta, V. (2022). A concise review on Artemisia annua L.: A major source of diverse medicinal compounds. Ind. Crops Prod., 184.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indcrop.2022.115072"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3039","DOI":"10.1016\/S0040-4039(01)96314-2","article-title":"A new type of sesqiterpene lactone isolated from Artemisia annua L. arteannuin B","volume":"14","author":"Behbud","year":"1973","journal-title":"Tetrahedron Lett."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shinyuy, L.M., Loe, G.E., Jansen, O., Mamede, L., Ledoux, A., Noukimi, S.F., Abenwie, S.N., Ghogomu, S.M., Souopgui, J., and Robert, A. (2023). Secondary Metabolites Isolated from Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua and Their Anti-Malarial, Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulating Properties\u2014Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: A Review. Metabolites, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/metabo13050613"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yang, L., Wen, K.S., Ruan, X., Zhao, Y.X., Wei, F., and Wang, Q. (2018). Response of plant secondary metabolites to environmental factors. Molecules, 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules23040762"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Beck, H.E., Zimmermann, N.E., McVicar, T.R., Vergopolan, N., Berg, A., and Wood, E.F. (2018). Present and future K\u00f6ppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution. Sci. Data, 5, Available online: https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30375988\/.","DOI":"10.1038\/sdata.2018.214"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1002\/pca.3191","article-title":"Geographical and seasonal phytochemical variation of Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd","volume":"34","author":"Olivier","year":"2023","journal-title":"Phytochem. Anal."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"WHO (2019). The Use of Non-Pharmaceutical Forms of Artemisia Global Malaria Programme, WHO."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ferreira, J.F.S., and Janick, J. (1995). Production and detection of artemisinin from Artemisia annua. Acta Hortic., 41\u201350.","DOI":"10.17660\/ActaHortic.1995.390.5"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mbah, J.A., Ngemenya, M.N., Abawah, A.L., Babiaka, S.B., Nubed, L.N., Nyongbela, K.D., Lemuh, N.D., and Efange, S.M. (2012). Bioassay-guided discovery of antibacterial agents: In vitro screening of Peperomia vulcanica, Peperomia fernandopoioana and Scleria striatinux. Ann. Clin. Microbiol. Antimicrob., 11.","DOI":"10.1186\/1476-0711-11-10"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpba.2011.04.012","article-title":"Validation, transfer and measurement uncertainty estimation of an HPLC-UV method for the quantification of artemisinin in hydro alcoholic extracts of Artemisia annua L","volume":"56","author":"Diawara","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Zeyuan, L., Yulin, W., and Meiyi, Z. (2018). Artemisinin Chemical Research. Artemisinin-Based and Other Antimalarials: Detailed Account of Studies by Chinese Scientists Who Discovered and Developed Them, Elsevier Inc."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"673","DOI":"10.1126\/science.781840","article-title":"Human Malaria Parasites in Continuous Culture","volume":"193","author":"Trager","year":"1976","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"433","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phytochem.2005.10.015","article-title":"Five labdane diterpenoids from the seeds of Aframomum zambesiacum","volume":"67","author":"Kenmogne","year":"2006","journal-title":"Phytochemistry"}],"container-title":["Molecules"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/30\/3\/596\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,8]],"date-time":"2025-10-08T10:37:57Z","timestamp":1759919877000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/30\/3\/596"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]]},"references-count":25,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["molecules30030596"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/molecules30030596","relation":{},"ISSN":["1420-3049"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1420-3049","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]]}}}