Artemisinin is highly soluble in polyethylene Glycol 4000 and such solution has multiple biological effects

Acta Biochim Pol. 2020 May 18;67(2):203-211. doi: 10.18388/abp.2020_5190.

Abstract

Artemisinin has a significant role in treatment of malaria, as well as effective anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. However, such problems as poor water solubility and easy recrystallization limit its application. In this study, polyethylene glycol, a solvent which is widely used in pharmaceutics, was introduced to prepare an artemisinin dissolution. Under the action of hydrogen bonding in 12% polyethylene glycol 4000 solvent, the maximum solubility of artemisinin could reach up to 1 mg/mL. Meanwhile, biological functions of such artemisinin solution were evaluated. The obtained artemisinin solution had a significant inhibitory effect on Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. As for the anti-inflammatory property, 0.031 mg/mL artemisinin solution had an obvious inhibitory effect on nitric oxide release in inflammatory cells, and the survival rate of cells was greater than 50%. Low concentration of the obtained artemisinin solution (0.031 mg/mL) had no significant cytotoxicity, while it displayed selective inhibition in cancer cells. IC50 for human hepatoma cells BEL-7404, SMMC7721 and Hep G2 is 0.0016 mg/mL, 0.0084 mg/mL and 0.0541 mg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, the 12% PEG4000-assisted artemisinin solution has a good biological effect and it can be further applied in pharmaceutics, biomaterials and medicine.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Artemisinins / chemistry*
  • Artemisinins / pharmacology*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Mice
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Solubility
  • Solvents / chemistry*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Artemisinins
  • Solvents
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • polyethylene glycol 4000
  • artemisinin