Products
No drugs containing dihydroartemisinin are currently approved in many countries. However, the prodrug artemether (Riamet, with lumefantrine), which is metabolized in the body to dihydroartemisinin, is available. It is also combined fixed with piperaquine; see Piperaquine and Dihydroartemisinin.
Structure and properties
Dihydroartemisinin (C15H24O5, Mr = 284.3 g/mol) is derived from artemisinin from annual mugwort (, qing hao), a medicinal plant from traditional Chinese medicine.
Effects
Dihydroartemisinin (ATC P01BE) has antiparasitic properties against plasmodia.
Indications
For treatment of malaria, usually in the form of prodrugs such as artemether or artesunate.
