Synonyms: β-artemether | beta-artemether
artemether is an approved drug (FDA (2009) in combination with lumefantrine)
Compound class:
Synthetic organic
Comment: Artemether is a semisynthetic derivative of artemisinin, a natural product isolated from the qinghao or sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua). Synthesis yields two crystalline anomers, α- and β-artemether, the latter predominates and is marginally more active [2].
Artemether is a prodrug that is converted to the active metabolite artenimol (dihydroartemisinin). The Malaria tab on this ligand page provides additional curator comments of relevance to the Guide to MALARIA PHARMACOLOGY. |
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References |
1. Delves M, Plouffe D, Scheurer C, Meister S, Wittlin S, Winzeler EA, Sinden RE, Leroy D. (2012)
The activities of current antimalarial drugs on the life cycle stages of Plasmodium: a comparative study with human and rodent parasites. PLoS Med, 9 (2): e1001169. [PMID:22363211] |
2. Shmuklarsky MJ, Klayman DL, Milhous WK, Kyle DE, Rossan RN, Ager Jr AL, Tang DB, Heiffer MH, Canfield CJ, Schuster BG. (1993)
Comparison of beta-artemether and beta-arteether against malaria parasites in vitro and in vivo. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 48 (3): 377-84. [PMID:8470775] |
3. (2015)
Treatment of severe malaria. In Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria. Third edition. (World Health Organization) . [PMID:26020088] [ISBN:9789241549127] |
4. (2015)
Treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria. Third edition. (World Health Organization) . [PMID:26020088] [ISBN:9789241549127] |