Cancer Terms

Artesunate

Cancer Terms -> Drugs and Chemicals -> Pharmacologic Substance -> Anti-Infective Agent -> Antiparasitic Agent -> Antiprotozoal Agent -> Artesunate

Artesunate Definition

A water-soluble, semi-synthetic derivative of the sesquiterpine lactone artemisinin with anti-malarial, anti-shistosomiasis, antiviral, and potential anti-neoplastic activities. Upon hydrolysis of artesunate's active endoperoxide bridge moiety by liberated heme in parasite-infected red blood cells, reactive oxygen species and carbon-centered radicals form, which have been shown to damage and kill parasitic organisms. Additionally, in vitro studies demonstrate that this agent induces DNA breakage in a dose-dependent manner. Artesunate has also been shown to stimulate cell differentiation, arrest the cell cycle in the G1 and G2/M phases, inhibit cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis through mitochondrial and caspase signaling pathways. Artemisinin is isolated from the plant Artemisia annua.

Artesunate Synonyms

Artesunate, 4-Oxo-4-(((3R,5aS,6R,8aS,9R,10S,12R,12aR)-3,6,9-trimethyldecahydro-3,12-epoxypyrano(4,3-j)-1,2-benzodioxepin-10-yl Hydrogen Butanedioate, ARTESUNATE, WR 256283

Terms in Artesunate category



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