Table of Contents
What is the function of artemisinin?
Artemisinins are derived from extracts of sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) and are well established for the treatment of malaria, including highly drug-resistant strains. Their efficacy also extends to phylogenetically unrelated parasitic infections such as schistosomiasis.
How was artemisinin developed?
Artemisinin is extracted from the plant Artemisia annua, sweet wormwood, a herb employed in Chinese traditional medicine. A precursor compound can be produced using a genetically engineered yeast, which is much more efficient than using the plant.
What is the structure of artemisinin?
C15H22O5Artemisinin / Formula
Does artesunate cross the BBB?
This study revealed that artesunate could preserve blood-brain barrier integrity and improve neurological outcome after SAH, possibly through activating S1P1, enhancing phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation, stabilizing β-catenin via GSK-3β inhibition, and then effectively raising the expression of Claudin-3 and …
Does artemisinin lower BP?
Intravenous injection of artemisinin had no significant effect on the mean arterial pressure or heart rate of the WKYs. Compared to DMSO or saline, intravenous injection of artemisinin decreased the heart rate but had no significant effect on the mean arterial pressure of the SHRs (Figure 1).
Why is artemisinin synthesized?
Artemisinin is an endoperoxidized sesquiterpene from the Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua, used as an effective anti-malarial drug. Its biosynthesis pathway has been investigated for many years for scientific interest and for potential manufacturing applications to fulfill the market demand.
How does artemisinin combination therapy work?
The primary advantage of the combination is that the artemisinin quickly and drastically reduces the majority of malaria parasites, and the partner drug clears the small number of parasites that remain.
What are the contraindications of artesunate?
Known contraindications include a previous severe allergic reaction to artesunate. Drugs that should be avoided while on artesunate are the drugs that inhibit the liver enzyme CYP2A6. These drugs include amiodarone, desipramine, isoniazid, ketoconazole, letrozole, methoxsalen and tranylcypromine.
Can artesunate cure cerebral malaria?
Artesunate has been proven to be the most effective drug to rescue from cerebral malaria in both adults and children [5, 6, 26]. WHO recommends its intravenous administration immediately when symptoms of severe malaria are detected.
Can artemisinin cause high blood pressure?
The pro-oxidant activity of artemisinin is simply too potent and rapid for wild-type parasites to combat and survive. Clinical studies demonstrated increased ROS production in patients with essential hypertension, renovascular hypertension, malignant hypertension.
Can artemisinin be synthesized?
Although total synthesis of artemisinin is difficult and costly, the semi-synthesis of artemisinin or any deriv. from microbially sourced artemisinic acid, its immediate precursor, could be a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, high-quality and reliable source of artemisinin.
What are the intermediates of artemisinin biosynthesis?
Artemisinin biosynthesis pathway occurs in the glandular trichomes of Artemisia annua. The pathway intermediates are defined as FPP, farnesyl diphosphate; AD, amorpha-4,11-diene; AAOH, artemisinic alcohol; AAA, artemisinic aldehyde; AA, artemisinic acid; DHAAA, dihydroartemisinic aldehyde; DHAA, dihydroartemisinic acid.
What is the source of artemisinin in China?
The Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. (Qinghao) is the only known source of the sesquiterpene artemisinin (Qinghaosu), which is used in the treatment of malaria. Artemisinin is a highly oxygenated sesquiterpene, containing a unique 1,2,4-trioxane ring structure, which is responsible for the …
What is the pathophysiology of artemisinin synthesis in nitrogen tabacum chloroplast?
Fuentes et al. (2016) introduced the artemisinin pathway into N. tabacum chloroplast via a stable plastid genome transformation followed by a combinatorial transformation resulting in a transformation of transplastomic recipient lines (COSTREL) that produces 120 μg/g artemisinic acid.
Is there a precursor for artemisinin in the roots of chicory?
The group of Prof. Bouwmeester has been tried to produce the chemical precursor for artemisinin (dihydroartemisinic acid) in the roots of chicory via a diversion of the biosynthesis of bitter compounds.