Artemisinin: a scientific review of discoveries, properties, use methods and cases

Introduction

Artemisinin, a magical molecule derived from Artemisia annua, has shown great potential and value in global malaria control and other medical fields since its discovery. This paper will introduce its discovery process, chemical properties, specific application methods, and successful cases in medical practice in detail, in order to provide a comprehensive and in-depth understanding for the public and scientific researchers.¹

Discovery process

The discovery of artemisinin is one of the outstanding achievements of China's May 23 Antimalarial Plan. The program was launched in the late 1960s to find new antimalarial drugs. Tu Youyou, a professor at the Beijing Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, led a team that extracted artemisinin, which has significant antimalarial activity, from Artemisia annua after hundreds of experiments. This discovery not only won China an international reputation, but also made a great contribution to the global malaria prevention and control cause.

Chemical characteristics

Artemisinin is a kind of organic compound with functional groups such as peroxygen bond, ether bond, and ester group. The molecular formula is C₁₅H₂₂O₅ and the relative molecular weight is 282.34. The chiral carbon atoms in their molecular structure and the specific hybridization mode give artemisinin unique chemical properties and pharmacological activities.

Artemisinin's success story

Cases of malaria treatment

After artemisinin was discovered and put into clinical use, its effectiveness in the treatment of malaria was widely verified. For example, in malaria-endemic areas such as Changjiang in Hainan Province, artemisinin has been used to treat patients with falciparum malaria, and remarkable results have been achieved. A 13-year-old child with high fever and vomiting severe malaria, after taking artemisinin, the malaria parasite in the blood quickly disappeared, and the condition was significantly improved. After clinical observation of many cases, artemisinin has proved to be effective against all kinds of malaria, especially resistant malaria, and it is safe, non-toxic, and fast to treat.²

Other medical application cases

In addition to malaria treatment, artemisinin has been found to have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and other pharmacological effects. In the field of tumor therapy, artemisinin can induce apoptosis of tumor cells, inhibit angiogenesis of tumor cells, and enhance the sensitivity of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Although the application in tumor therapy is still in the research stage, its potential has attracted wide attention. In addition, the application in anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and other aspects is also being explored.3

Side effect

Artemisinin, as a drug, has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of malaria, but its use may also be accompanied by a series of side effects. The following are common side effects:

Allergic reactions

Manifestations: Artemisinin may cause allergic reactions, such as skin redness, itching, rash, urticaria, etc. In severe cases, it may cause life-threatening allergic reactions such as dyspnea and angioedema.

Treatment: In case of allergic symptoms, discontinue use immediately and seek emergency medical treatment.4

Gastrointestinal discomfort

Manifestations: Artemisinin may cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms are usually temporary, but in some cases can affect a person's normal life.

Treatment: During the medication period, if the symptoms are mild, you can try to relieve them by adjusting your diet and increasing water intake. If symptoms are severe or persistent, seek medical attention.

Nervous system response

Manifestations: Artemisinin may cause headache, dizziness, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness and other neurological symptoms. These symptoms may affect the patient's mental state and daily life.

Management: If you develop neurological symptoms during medication, consult your doctor to assess whether you need to adjust the dosage or change medications.

Liver and kidney function injury

Reason: Artemisinin needs to be excreted from the body through the metabolism of liver and kidney function, and long-term or excessive use may increase the burden of liver and kidney, resulting in impaired liver and kidney function.

Manifestations: There may be abnormal liver function serum transaminase, red blood cell decline, and other biochemical indicators.^{2, 5}

Treatment: During the use, the liver and kidney function indicators should be regularly monitored, and if abnormal, timely medical treatment should be provided and the medication regimen should be adjusted.

Other adverse reactions

Tinnitus: Excessive use of artemisinin may have a toxic effect on the ear nerve, causing tinnitus. In severe cases, it may affect hearing.

Thrombocytopenia: In rare cases, long-term or high-dose use of artemisinin may trigger thrombocytopenia, increasing the risk of bleeding tendencies.

Matters needing attention

Before use, you should understand the use method and precautions of the drug in detail, and follow the doctor's advice.

If any discomfort occurs, inform the doctor in time and adjust the medication regimen.

It is usually not recommended for normal people to take artemisinin at will to avoid unnecessary risks.

To sum up, artemisinin may be accompanied by a variety of side effects during the use of artemisinin. Patients should strictly follow the doctor's advice, pay attention to the monitoring of body changes, and seek medical attention in time if there is any abnormality.

Conclusion

Artemisinin, as a natural compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine, has not only made great contributions to global malaria prevention and control but also provided new ideas and methods for modern drug research and development. With the deepening of its research, it is believed that its application prospects in more medical fields will be broader. At the same time, we should also pay attention to the sustainable use and protection of artemisinin resources to ensure its long-term service for human health.

References

[1].Tu, Y., The discovery of artemisinin (qinghaosu) and gifts from Chinese medicine. Nature medicine 2011, 17 (10), 1217-1220.

[2].Lai, H. C.; Singh, N. P.; Sasaki, T., Development of artemisinin compounds for cancer treatment. Investigational new drugs 2013, 31, 230-246.

[3].O'Neill, P. M.; Posner, G. H., A medicinal chemistry perspective on artemisinin and related endoperoxides. Journal of medicinal chemistry 2004, 47 (12), 2945-2964.

[4].Woodrow, C.; Haynes, R.; Krishna, S., Artemisinins. Postgraduate medical journal 2005, 81 (952), 71-78.

[5].Klayman, D. L., Qinghaosu (artemisinin): an antimalarial drug from China. Science 1985, 228 (4703), 1049-1055

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