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Drugs and Medicinal Substances

Artemisinin

Antiinfective Agents for Systemic Use

Artemisinin and its semisynthetic derivatives are a group of drugs used in the treatment of malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum. It was discovered in 1972 by Tu Youyou, who shared the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery.

Facts
Drug Class
Antimalarial medication 1
Mechanism of Action
Converted to dihydroartemisinin in the bloodstream; its endoperoxide ring cleaves on contact with iron in red blood cells, producing free radicals that damage parasite proteins. 1
Approved Use
Treats malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum. 1
First Approved / Isolated Year
1972 1
Significant Risk
Generally well tolerated; nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and dizziness are common; rare serious effects include allergic reaction and liver inflammation. 1
Classification
Approval Status
Approved 1
ATC ClassSourced to the subject's own account
J: Antiinfectives for Systemic Use 2
Route of Administration
Oral 3
WHO Essential Medicine
Core List 1
Connections

Discovered By

Tu Youyou, Healers
Source Artemisinin (Wikipedia)

Treats

Malaria, Conditions
Source Artemisinin (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Artemisinin (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    It was discovered in 1972 by Tu Youyou
  • Infobox, drug class
    a group of drugs used against malaria
  • Mechanism of action section
    endoperoxide ring cleaves when contacting iron
  • Adverse effects section
    generally well tolerated
  • Regulatory approval status
  • WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, core list
View the Source
2. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (Wikipedia)
WikipediaFirst-level anatomical group codes, Code J
Quote, First-level anatomical group codes, Code J
Antiinfectives for systemic use
View the Source
3. Artemisinin (Wikipedia)
WikipediaInfobox drug, routes_of_administration
Quote, Infobox drug, routes_of_administration
Oral
View the Source
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