She found that sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) had been used for fevers and successfully isolated the compound artemisinin, which rapidly kills malaria parasites.
Her work combined traditional knowledge with modern science, leading to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) â now the global standard for malaria treatment. Her discovery has saved millions of lives.
In 2015, Tu became the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel Prize in science. Her story is a powerful example of how respecting ancient wisdom can lead to modern breakthroughs.














