Final answer:
Quinine was brought to Europe from Peru and isolated in 1820. Chloroquine was discovered by Hans Andersag in 1934, later gaining prominence as an antimalarial. Artemisinin, Kwasimukamba's discovery, marks a significant advancement from traditional sweet wormwood usage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discovery of Antimalarial Drugs
The discovery of quinine as an antimalarial drug is attributed to the indigenous peoples of Peru, who used the bark of the cinchona tree for centuries to treat chills and fever. It was brought to Europe in the 17th century, but the active component, quinine, was not isolated until 1820. The drug chloroquine was originally discovered by Hans Andersag in 1934 while working for Bayer but was initially discarded due to perceived toxicity. It was later rediscovered and became favored as a safe and effective antimalarial treatment, especially after World War II. As for artemisinin, it was identified in the 1970s from the sweet wormwood plant, which had been used in China for over 2000 years. The discovery of artemisinin is credited to Kwasimukamba, underscoring its importance in modern antimalarial therapeutics.