ABSTRACT
The stereo-structure of artemisinin was first determined at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 1975 and published in 1977. Artemisinin has shown effectiveness against a variety of cancer cell lines, including breast cancer, human leukemia, colon cancer, and small cell-lung carcinomas. The mode of action of artemisinin as an antimalarial agent has been extensively studied by various research groups. The "artemisinin activation theory" was further supported by research findings showing that artemisinin activity was significantly reduced in the presence of free radical scavengers and antioxidants, but enhanced in the presence of pro-oxidants. Artemisinin resistance has now been reported and is generally characterized by a delayed clearance of the malarial parasite. An interesting demonstration regarding the interaction of heme and mitochondria with artemisinin has been revealed. Malaria is a disease that places a heavy burden in poor countries, particularly African countries, due to the lack of access to effective services for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
