The birth of artemisinin

Pharmacol Ther. 2020 Dec:216:107658. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107658. Epub 2020 Aug 8.

Abstract

As the first-line antimalarial drugs, artemisinins gained wide acceptance after the emergence of resistance to chloroquine in the 1950s. Artemisinin-based drugs have saved lives, especially in developing countries. The discovery of artemisinin was unique, timely, and fascinating, and the benefits of artemisinin were with far-reaching implications. Herein, we will give a brief description of various aspects of the development of artemisinin and discuss the position and perspectives of artemisinin-based drugs.

Keywords: Antimalarial; Artemisinin; Qinghaosu.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / chemistry
  • Antimalarials / isolation & purification
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Artemisia annua* / chemistry
  • Artemisinins / chemistry
  • Artemisinins / isolation & purification
  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Malaria / drug therapy*
  • Malaria / parasitology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plasmodium / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium / pathogenicity
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemisinins
  • artemisinin