From traditional remedies to modern medicines

In a book from AD 340, chemist Tu Youyou found a story about an old folk remedy containing the plant Artemisia annua being used for ‘intermittent fevers’, one of the symptoms of malaria. This led to the discovery of artemisinin, a leading antimalarial compound, for which she won a Nobel prize. Read the article to discover how chemists have used the medicinal properties of plants – and the folklore that goes with them – in the fight against illness and diseases that kill millions every year. Download a post-16 research and presentation activity on aspirin for your students, with teacher notes and extra information on alternative analgesics.