Artemisin, also known as artemisinin, is an organic compound with a molecular formula of C15H22O5 and a relative molecular weight of 282.34. Artemisinin is a colorless needle like crystal that is easily soluble in chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, and benzene. It is soluble in ethanol and ether, slightly soluble in cold petroleum ether, and almost insoluble in water. Due to its unique peroxide group, it is thermally unstable and susceptible to decomposition due to the influence of moisture, heat, and reducing substances. Artemisinin is one of the best drugs for treating malaria resistance, and combination therapy with artemisinin based drugs is currently the most effective and important means of treating malaria.
In recent years, with the deepening of research, other effects of artemisinin have also been found, such as anti-tumor, treatment of pulmonary hypertension, anti diabetes, embryotoxicity, antifungal, immune regulation, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti pulmonary fibrosis, antibacterial, cardiovascular and other pharmacological effects. From 1969 to 1972, a 523 research group led by Chinese pharmacist Tu Youyou discovered and extracted artemisinin from Artemisia annua and pioneered new methods for malaria treatment. Tu Youyou was also awarded the 2011 Lasker Clinical Medicine Award and the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (shared with two other scientists) for this.
