The example of artemisinin highlights recent progress in
utilizing plant metabolic engineering as well as microbial
biochemical engineering for production of a plant terpenoid
at high yield. These studies may result in novel agricultural
crops or in efficient microbial fermentations for plant
terpenoid production. It is also important to note that the
modern socio-economic value of artemisinin as a medicinal
compound, and research towards cost-effective and largescale
biotechnological production, are largely founded on
traditional knowledge regarding a terpenoid-producing
medicinal plant.