Anthelminthic effects of artemisinin and its derivatives

Abstract

Qinghao (Artemisia annua, L.), a famous herb from China, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Artemisinin, an active substance is extracted from the leaves and flowers of Qinghao, with a unique sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide structure showing an antimalarial activity. Derivatives of artemisinin, artesunate and artemether, are the most widely used as antimalarial drugs. Since artemisinin not only possess antimalarial properties, but also active against various parasitic infection. Ongoing research on these compounds has been emphasized on the potential impact for anthelmintic treatment. Artemisinin derivatives exhibited a broad spectrum property against various trematodes, nematode, and cestode both in vitro and in vivo studies. These helminthocidal properties of artemisinin derivatives presented here provide further data for clinical investigations in the field trial study. However, a better understanding of action of artemisinin derivatives and their biomolecule target may contribute a promising possibility for clinical utility in anthelmintic application. Toxicity of artemisinin derivatives was less and was demonstrated in experimental animals with neurotoxicity and anemia.