The Antiviral Activities of Artemisinin and Artesunate

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine commands a unique position among all traditional medicines because of its 5000 years of history. Our own interest in natural products from traditional Chinese medicine was triggered in the 1990s, by artemisinin-type sesquiterpene lactones from Artemisia annua L. As demonstrated in recent years, this class of compounds has activity against malaria, cancer cells, and schistosomiasis. Interestingly, the bioactivity of artemisinin and its semisynthetic derivative artesunate is even broader and includes the inhibition of certain viruses, such as human cytomegalovirus and other members of the Herpesviridae family (e.g., herpes simplex virus type 1 and Epstein-Barr virus), hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and bovine viral diarrhea virus. Analysis of the complete profile of the pharmacological activities and molecular modes of action of artemisinin and artesunate and their performance in clinical trials will further elucidate the full antimicrobial potential of these versatile pharmacological tools from nature.

Controlling bruchid pests of stored cowpea seeds with dried leaves of Artemisia annua and two other common botanicals

“…Artemisinin derivatives are also effective against some other pathogens including those responsible for cryptosporidiosis, amoebiasis, giardiasis, clonorchiasis and leishmaniasis (Ma et al, 2004;Yang and Liew, 1993). Moreover, artemisinin has been recently indicated as a potential and effective compound against a number of viruses including hepatitis B, C and others (Efferth et al, 2008). We observed from a series of preliminary studies that in addition to these very unique pharmacological properties of artemisinin and its derivatives, the dried aerial parts of A. annua also contain fairly high levels of bioactive constituents with fumigant activity, leading us to suspect that this crop could probably have potent insecticidal properties with low toxicity to mammals.…”

Pharmacological Activity of Sesquiterpene Lactones

“…Centaurepensin and chloroyanerin also act on DNA virus HSV-1 but they are weaker than 13- A sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin isolated from Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae), has been known as antimalaric. Besides artemisinin, the antivirusal activity of a semisynthetic derivative artesunate was tested as well (3). It was proved that artesunate has inhibitory effect in in vitro conditions, on replication of HCMV (human cytomegalovirus), as well as on herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), Epstein-Barr virus and human herpes virus 6A (2), while artemisinin is inactive on human herpes virus 6A (13) and acts weakly on HCMV (6).…”

Between Artemisinin and Derivatives With Neuraminidase: A Docking Study Insight

“…One of the traditional medicinal plants with potent antiviral activity was Artemisia annua or qinghaosu. Artemisinins, its main secondary metabolites was known for having several antiviral activities [12,13]. However, to date still, no researches linking between artemisinin and derivatives with anti-influenza properties toward NA inhibition.…”