Artemisinin

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: Qinghaosu

Pharmacological Mechanism

Sesquiterpene lactone with endoperoxide bridge — heme-iron cleavage generates carbon-centered radicals that alkylate parasite proteins. First-line antimalarial when paired with a longer-acting partner drug (artemisinin combination therapy / ACT). Resistance emergence in Southeast Asia is a public-health concern.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 2.5h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 500mg (Range: 100 - 800 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• immune-hematologic