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Title: Recent and projected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are associated with enhanced concentration of the anti-malarial compound, artemesinin

Author
item ZHU, CHUNWU - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item ZENG, QILING - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item MCMICHAEL, TONY - Australian National University
item EBI, KRIS - University Of Washington
item NI, KANG - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item KAHN, ALI - University Of Nebraska
item ZHU, JIANGUO - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item LIU, G - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item ZHANG, XIANCHUN - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item CHENG, LEI - Zhejiang University
item Ziska, Lewis

Submitted to: Climatic Change
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/26/2015
Publication Date: 5/4/2015
Citation: Zhu, C., Zeng, Q., Mcmichael, T., Yat-Sen, S., Ebi, K., Ni, K., Zhang, X., Zhu, J., Kahn, A.S., Ziska, L.H. 2015. Recent and projected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are associated with enhanced concentration of the anti-malarial compound, artemesinin. Climatic Change. 132:295-306.

Interpretive Summary: Although a number of studies have reported on how rising CO2 levels will affect crop plants and agricultural production, little work has documented how recent and projected increases in atmospheric CO2 will affect plant chemistry. Yet, such effects could include changes in the chemistry of known pharmacological substances that are derived from plants. One such substance is artemesinin, a compound derived from Artemisia annua, a common roadside weed. To determine how atmospheric CO2 could alter the concentration of artemesinin, we utilized herbarium samples of Artemisia annua collected at 236 locations throughout China from 1905 through 2009. The analyses were based on the relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide and foliar ratios of carbon to nitrogen. The data indicate that the foliar increase in artemesinin concentration parallels the increase in atmospheric CO2 during this period. Additional experimental data using a Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) system suggest ongoing increases in artemesinin foliar concentration and production up to ~580 parts per million CO2, a concentration expected later this century. Overall, these data provide evidence that recent and projected increases in atmospheric CO2 concentration have altered artemesinin chemistry, with potential ramifications on the concentration and production of this anti-malarial compound. These data should be of interest to plant biologists, health care professionals, climate change scientists and the general public.

Technical Abstract: Although direct impacts on plant biology, in response to projected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide [CO2], have been well established experimentally, data quantifying recent (20th century) impacts of [CO2] on plant chemical composition are undocumented. Yet, such impacts could include changes in secondary plant compounds which, in addition to any eco-physiological function, are acknowledged as having pharmacological value for a large segment of the global population. Here we quantified the concentration of artemesinin, a sesquiterpene lactone and a primary anti-malarial treatment, using herbarium samples of Artemisia annua collected at 236 locations throughout China from 1905 through 2009. The analyses were based on the relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide and foliar ratios of carbon to nitrogen. The data indicate that the foliar increase in artemesinin concentration parallels the increase in atmospheric [CO2] during this period. Such an increase is consistent with the carbon: nitrogen balance hypothesis. Additional experimental data using a Free-Air [CO2] Enrichment (FACE) system suggest continued increases in artemesinin foliar concentration and production with projected increases in atmospheric [CO2], up to ~580 ppm. Overall, these data provide evidence that recent and projected increases in atmospheric [CO2] concentration have altered artemesinin chemistry, with potential ramifications on concentration and production for this anti-malarial compound.