Developing a Standard Procedure for Comparing the Effects of Artemisia annua, Artemisinin, and Artesunate on Fibroblasts

Francis, Sarah; McGinn, Molly; Vignola, Isabella

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Developing a Standard Procedure for Comparing the Effects of Artemisia annua, Artemisinin, and Artesunate on Fibroblasts

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Fibrosis is a disease that can manifest into various ailments and impacts many organs. Currently, fibrogenesis and the resulting fibrotic diseases are not completely understood. Therefore, no consistent standard exists for testing treatments that target fibrosis and the cell signaling pathways that mediate its formation. One method that has been explored is plant-based therapies using the plant Artemisia annua, which has been shown to be effective against ailments throughout its use in Chinese culture for many millennia. This project aims to compare the efficacy of this plant, with its main constituent artemisinin, and the currently used artemisinin derivative artesunate, human dermal fibroblasts. The final standard operating procedure (SOP) was developed to effectively compare plant extracts with pure drugs using a resazurin viability assay and statistical analysis methods. Results indicated that Artemisia annua hot water infusion, extracts, and artesunate treatment inhibited the growth of dermal fibroblasts, with A. annua tea at a concentration of 50 μM being the most effective. The procedure was concluded to be effective for comparing each of the treatments in a replicable, inexpensive manner that is not only easy to use but also generates quantitative data that can be obtained in a conventional laboratory setting.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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