title: The Potential Therapeutic Effects of Artesunate on Stroke and Other Central Nervous System Diseases.
abstract: Artesunate is an important agent for cerebral malaria and all kinds of other severe malaria because it is highly efficient, lowly toxic, and well-tolerated. Loads of research pointed out that it had widespread pharmacological activities such as antiparasites, antitumor, anti-inflammation, antimicrobes activities. As we know, the occurrence and development of neurological disorders usually refer to intricate pathophysiologic mechanisms and multiple etiopathogenesis. Recent progress has also demonstrated that drugs with single mechanism and serious side-effects are not likely the candidates for treatment of the neurological disorders. Therefore, the pluripotent action of artesunate may result in it playing an important role in the prevention and treatment of these neurological disorders. This review provides an overview of primary pharmacological mechanism of artesunate and its potential therapeutic effects on neurological disorders. Meanwhile, we also briefly summarize the primary mechanisms of artemisinin and its derivatives. We hope that, with the evidence presented in this review, the effect of artesunate in prevention and curing for neurological disorders can be further explored and studied in the foreseeable future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Shilun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China; Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4489-9217
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yujie
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9905-9138
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077332:Artesunate; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077332:Artesunate