The antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin: Formulation design and challenges in drug development
7
Issued Date
2019
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
Faculty of Pharmacy Mahidol University
Suggested Citation
Satit Puttipipatkhachorn, สาธิต พุทธิพิพัฒน์ขจร (2019). The antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin: Formulation design and challenges in drug development. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/49475
Title
The antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin: Formulation design and challenges in drug development
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Malaria is an important cause of death and illness in children and adults, especially in
tropical countries. Artemisinin-based combination therapy is currently the gold standard of
antimalarial therapy, recommended in the WHO Guidelines. Artemisinin, also called
qinghaosu, is naturally occurring sesquiterpine lactone endoperoxide isolated from the
traditional Chinese medicinal plant qinghao. Artemisinin shows a potent antimalarial activity
against resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum and cerebral malaria. Artemisinin and its
derivatives are metabolized to an active metabolite, dihydroartemisinin (DHA). DHA is an
effective antimalarial drug, especially against the tolerant species of Plasmodium falciparum.
Unfortunately, DHA possesses poor water solubility, leading to low bioavailability. There are
many attempts to improve the dissolution and bioavailability of DHA such as inclusion
complexation with cyclodextrins, solid dispersion, nanosuspension, microfluidization,
micronization, and surfactant addition. Some reports on dosage form design, formulation and
processing of DHA formulations and delivery systems are presented and discussed.
Description
The 1st Pharmaceutical Sciences Asia Conference 2019 Theme : Pharmaceutical Sciences toward Health Innovation in the Disruptive Era. Bangkok Midtown Hotel, Thailand. August 22, 2019, page 4-5