Chemistry of artemisinin: an overview.
The endoperoxide sesquiterpene lactone, artemisinin, and its derivatives have become increasingly important as antimalarial drugs with impressive activity against multidrug resistant forms of Plasmodium falciparum. Artemisinin has a novel structure among known antimalarial compounds with a unique 1,2,4-trioxane ring that is essential for activity. This paper gives an overview of the chemistry of artemisinin and comments on future prospects for artemisinin and its derivatives.
Webster
H K
HK
Department of Parasitology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307-5100.
Lehnert
E K
EK
D000962:Antimalarials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
D000962:Antimalarials; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C031327:artemisinin