Objective: To compare contents of volatile oil and artemisinin in different plant tissues of Artemisia annua

in order to provide experimental basis for full utilization of this herbs resources. Method: Volatile oil was extracted according to 2010 edition of ‘Chinese Pharmacopoeia’.The content of artemisinin in leaves

flowers

roots

stems and fruits of A. annua was determined by HPLC

mobile phase was methanol-phosphate buffer solution(60:40)

flow rate was 0.8 mL·min-1 and detection wavelength set at 260 nm. Result: The content of volatile oil in various tissues of A. annua was in the order of flowers >leaves >fruits >roots >stems

but the content of artemisinin was flowers >fruits >leaves >roots >stems.Artemisinin showed a good linear relationship in 1.025×10-3-1.025 μg with r of 1.0

average recovery was 100.34% with RSD of 2.3%. Conclusion: Distributions of volatile oil and artemisinin in different tissues of A. annua have large differences

but they both have the highest content in flowers.This established determination of artemisinin is accurate

stable and reliable

which can be used for quality control of A. annua.