artemisinin

Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone with an unusual endoperoxide bridge that is responsible for its potent antimalarial activity. It is a natural product isolated from the plant Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood), traditionally used in Chinese medicine. Discovered by Tu Youyou in 1972, artemisinin and its derivatives have become the cornerstone of malaria treatment worldwide—especially for Plasmodium falciparum infections and cases resistant to other antimalarials. Artemisinin acts as a prodrug; after administration it is converted to dihydroartemisinin inside erythrocytes. The drug’s endoperoxide ring reacts with iron(II) within heme or hemozoin in infected red blood cells, generating free radicals that damage parasite proteins and lead to rapid parasite death. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are now standard of care due to concerns about resistance when used as monotherapy. Besides malaria, artemisinin has shown activity against other protozoal infections and has been investigated for potential anticancer effects[1][3][5][7][10].

Other names

qinghaosu青蒿素artemisininahuanghuahaosuarteannuinartemisinine