Artesunate
Active ingredient description
Artesunate is a semi-synthetic artemisinin derivative, indicated for the initial treatment of severe malaria in adults and children. The antimalarial mechanism of action of artesunate is generally thought to depend upon activation involving iron-mediated cleavage of the endoperoxide bridge of DHA to generate an unstable organic free radical followed by alkylation, where the free radical binds to malarial proteins leading to destruction of parasite membranes.
Medicine classification
This medicinal substance has been classified in the anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification according to its main therapeutic use as follows:
Product monographs
Competent medicine agencies globally have authorized commercialization of this active ingredient according to these medication package inserts (MPIs):
Medicines
Artesunate is the active ingredient of these drugs:
Netherlands
Structural formula
Chemical formula: C₁₉H₂₈O₈
Molecular mass: 384.425 g/mol