New Uses for Old Drugs: The Tale of Artemisinin Derivatives in the Elimination of Schistosomiasis Japonica in China
Artemisinin (qinghaosu), extracted from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L. in 1972, and its three major derivatives—artemether, artesunate and dihydroartemisinin—were firstly identified as antimalarials and found active against all species of the malaria parasite. Since the early 1980s, artemisinin...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2014-09-01
|
Series: | Molecules |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/9/15058 |
id |
doaj-e9e3b0d0ea104a1c90a0c39cebf3f460 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-e9e3b0d0ea104a1c90a0c39cebf3f4602020-11-24T23:07:07ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492014-09-01199150581507410.3390/molecules190915058molecules190915058New Uses for Old Drugs: The Tale of Artemisinin Derivatives in the Elimination of Schistosomiasis Japonica in ChinaYi-Xin Liu0Wei Wu1Yue-Jin Liang2Zu-Liang Jie3Hui Wang4Wei Wang5Yi-Xin Huang6Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi 214064, ChinaJiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi 214064, ChinaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USADepartment of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, USAJiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi 214064, ChinaJiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi 214064, ChinaArtemisinin (qinghaosu), extracted from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L. in 1972, and its three major derivatives—artemether, artesunate and dihydroartemisinin—were firstly identified as antimalarials and found active against all species of the malaria parasite. Since the early 1980s, artemisinin and its derivatives have been found efficacious against Schistosoma spp., notably larval parasites, and artemisinin derivatives have played a critical role in the prevention and treatment of human schistosomiasis in China. Currently, China is moving towards the progress of schistosomiasis elimination. However, the potential development of praziquantel resistance may pose a great threat to the progress of elimination of schistosomiasis japonica in China. Fortunately, these three major artemisinin derivatives also exhibit actions against adult parasites, and reduced sensitivity to artemether, artesunate and dihydroartemisinin has been detected in praziquantel-resistant S. japonicum. In this review, we describe the application of artemisinin derivatives in the prevention and treatment of schistosomiasis japonica in China, so as to provide tools for the global agenda of schistosomiasis elimination. In addition to antimalarial and antischistosomal actions, they also show activities against other parasites and multiple cancers. Artemisinin derivatives, as old drugs identified firstly as antimalarials, continue to create new stories.http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/9/15058schistosomiasis japonicaartemisininartemetherartesunatedihydroartemisinineliminationChina |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Yi-Xin Liu Wei Wu Yue-Jin Liang Zu-Liang Jie Hui Wang Wei Wang Yi-Xin Huang |
spellingShingle |
Yi-Xin Liu Wei Wu Yue-Jin Liang Zu-Liang Jie Hui Wang Wei Wang Yi-Xin Huang New Uses for Old Drugs: The Tale of Artemisinin Derivatives in the Elimination of Schistosomiasis Japonica in China Molecules schistosomiasis japonica artemisinin artemether artesunate dihydroartemisinin elimination China |
author_facet |
Yi-Xin Liu Wei Wu Yue-Jin Liang Zu-Liang Jie Hui Wang Wei Wang Yi-Xin Huang |
author_sort |
Yi-Xin Liu |
title |
New Uses for Old Drugs: The Tale of Artemisinin Derivatives in the Elimination of Schistosomiasis Japonica in China |
title_short |
New Uses for Old Drugs: The Tale of Artemisinin Derivatives in the Elimination of Schistosomiasis Japonica in China |
title_full |
New Uses for Old Drugs: The Tale of Artemisinin Derivatives in the Elimination of Schistosomiasis Japonica in China |
title_fullStr |
New Uses for Old Drugs: The Tale of Artemisinin Derivatives in the Elimination of Schistosomiasis Japonica in China |
title_full_unstemmed |
New Uses for Old Drugs: The Tale of Artemisinin Derivatives in the Elimination of Schistosomiasis Japonica in China |
title_sort |
new uses for old drugs: the tale of artemisinin derivatives in the elimination of schistosomiasis japonica in china |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Molecules |
issn |
1420-3049 |
publishDate |
2014-09-01 |
description |
Artemisinin (qinghaosu), extracted from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L. in 1972, and its three major derivatives—artemether, artesunate and dihydroartemisinin—were firstly identified as antimalarials and found active against all species of the malaria parasite. Since the early 1980s, artemisinin and its derivatives have been found efficacious against Schistosoma spp., notably larval parasites, and artemisinin derivatives have played a critical role in the prevention and treatment of human schistosomiasis in China. Currently, China is moving towards the progress of schistosomiasis elimination. However, the potential development of praziquantel resistance may pose a great threat to the progress of elimination of schistosomiasis japonica in China. Fortunately, these three major artemisinin derivatives also exhibit actions against adult parasites, and reduced sensitivity to artemether, artesunate and dihydroartemisinin has been detected in praziquantel-resistant S. japonicum. In this review, we describe the application of artemisinin derivatives in the prevention and treatment of schistosomiasis japonica in China, so as to provide tools for the global agenda of schistosomiasis elimination. In addition to antimalarial and antischistosomal actions, they also show activities against other parasites and multiple cancers. Artemisinin derivatives, as old drugs identified firstly as antimalarials, continue to create new stories. |
topic |
schistosomiasis japonica artemisinin artemether artesunate dihydroartemisinin elimination China |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/9/15058 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT yixinliu newusesforolddrugsthetaleofartemisininderivativesintheeliminationofschistosomiasisjaponicainchina AT weiwu newusesforolddrugsthetaleofartemisininderivativesintheeliminationofschistosomiasisjaponicainchina AT yuejinliang newusesforolddrugsthetaleofartemisininderivativesintheeliminationofschistosomiasisjaponicainchina AT zuliangjie newusesforolddrugsthetaleofartemisininderivativesintheeliminationofschistosomiasisjaponicainchina AT huiwang newusesforolddrugsthetaleofartemisininderivativesintheeliminationofschistosomiasisjaponicainchina AT weiwang newusesforolddrugsthetaleofartemisininderivativesintheeliminationofschistosomiasisjaponicainchina AT yixinhuang newusesforolddrugsthetaleofartemisininderivativesintheeliminationofschistosomiasisjaponicainchina |
_version_ |
1725619971750363136 |