The present invention relates to an improved process for one pot conversion of artemisinin into artelinic acid, which reduces the three step (three pot) conversion of artemisinin to artelinic acid in one step (one pot). The process of preparation of artelinic acid involves stirring of artemisinin with sodium borohydride .catalyst, polyhydroxy compound or chlorotrimethylsilane or amberlyst -15 resin and methyl p-(hydroxymethyl) benzoate, filtration of undissolved, unwanted reaction products and finally stirring of the filtrate with alcoholic or aqueous alkali hydroxide.
