Artesunate is an antimalarial drug that is commonly used for the treatment of malaria. It belongs to a class of medications called artemisinin derivatives, which are derived from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua. Artesunate works by killing the malaria parasites that cause the disease.
According to the sources provided, the mechanism of action of artesunate involves several steps. When artesunate enters the body, it is converted into its active form, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), which is responsible for the antimalarial activity [2]. DHA acts by generating toxic free radicals within the malaria parasite, specifically targeting the parasite's food vacuole, where it digests hemoglobin [3]. These free radicals cause damage to the parasite's cell membranes, proteins, and DNA, leading to the parasite's death [2].
Artesunate has been found to be effective against both the blood stage of the malaria parasite, which causes the symptoms of malaria, and the liver stage, which is responsible for the persistence of the infection [3]. This broad-spectrum activity makes artesunate an important drug in the treatment of malaria.
It is worth noting that artesunate is usually used in combination with other antimalarial drugs, such as mefloquine or lumefantrine, to prevent the development of resistance and improve treatment outcomes [1]. The combination therapy helps to ensure that multiple stages of the malaria parasite are targeted, reducing the risk of treatment failure and the emergence of drug-resistant strains.
In summary, artesunate works by converting into its active form, dihydroartemisinin, which generates toxic free radicals within the malaria parasite. These free radicals cause damage to the parasite's cell membranes, proteins, and DNA, leading to its death. Artesunate is an important antimalarial drug that is used in combination with other medications to treat malaria effectively.
Sources:
[1] DrugPatentWatch. Artesunate. Retrieved from https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/ARTESUNATE
[2] White, N. J. (2008). Qinghaosu (artemisinin): the price of success. Science, 320(5874), 330-334. doi: 10.1126/science.1155165
[3] Davis, T. M. E., & Karunajeewa, H. A. (2021). Artemisinin-based combination therapies for uncomplicated malaria. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 21(2), e51-e62. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30317-0