The oral Bio-availability of two different capsule formulations of artmisinin was carried out in six rabbits divided in two groups and seven healthy male volunteers in a single-dose crossover design with randomization for dosing sequence. The experimental results showed that the relative bioavailability of the formulation, that was made of artemisinin solid dispersion system using Eudragit L100 as a carrier on ratio 1:1, was more two times higher than the modification of artemisinin capsules without any modifications. There was a good correlation between in vitro dissolution data obtained by dissolution test with the mean AUG values of each studied group after oral administration.
Artemisinine ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; therapeutics

Artemisinine was prepared into a suspension suitable for subcutaneous administration in Plasmodium berghei- infected mice. This formulation (20mg/kg b.i.d, total dosage of 200mg/kg) was compared to oral artemisinine (at the same dose) in 50 Plasmodium berghei infected mice. The study also included a non treated control group and a placebo suspension group. The drug was applied for 5 days, beginning at 4 hours after infection. All mice treated by subcutaneous application were alive and did not show any toxicity or side effects due artemisinine. There was no recrudescence during 60 days of follow-up. All mice in the control, placebo and oral artemisinin group died with hyperparasitemia. The result showed that subcutaneous formulation of artemisinin is more effective than oral ones at the same dose.
Artemisinine ; Plasmodium berghei

Artemisinin, a sesquiterpen lacton, is an active ingredient of the sweet wormwood plant. It is used mostly for malaria. It can kill the cancer cell by following mechanism: endoperoxyd junction of artemisinin degrades haem (containing Fe), after reaction, new generated free radicals akylate and oxygenate protein and lipid, deteriorate macromolecular and kill the parasite without significant adverse effects. Administration of artemisinin derivatives with acceptable dosage and combination with a iron salt can produce potent effect on cancer, especially on breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms ; therapeutics ; artemisinine ; breast ; neoplasms

Enteric solid dispersions of artemisinine were prepared by spray drying using methacrylic acid copolymer (Eudragit L100) as carrier and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), Tween 20, PEG 6000, colloidal silica (aerosil) as additives. Spherical solid dispersion particles were obtained. Both solubility and dissolution rate of artemisinine studied in the medium pH 7.2 from all solid dispersions were markedly improved compared with that from the original or spray dried drug powder. The drug release rate of tablets that were made from the solid dispersion with drug-carrier ratio of 1:2 was nearly unchanged in medium pH 7.2 and was retarded in medium pH 1.5 in comparison with the solid dispersion powder.
Artemisinine ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; therapeutics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents

Eurycoma longifolia, locally known as 'Tongkat Ali' is a popular local medicinal plant that possess a lot of medicinal properties as claimed traditionally, especially in the treatment of malaria. The claims have been proven scientifically on isolated compounds from the plant. The present study is to investigate the anti malaria properties of Eurycoma longifolia standardized extract (root) (TA164) alone and in combination with artemisinin in vivo. Combination treatment of the standardized extract (TA164) with artemisinin suppressed P. yoelii infection in the experimental mice. The 4 day suppressive test showed that TA164 suppressed the parasitemia of P. yoelii-infected mice as dose dependent manner (10, 30 and 60 mg/kg BW) by oral and subcutaneous treatment. By oral administration, combination of TA164 at 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg BW each with artemisinin respectively showed a significant increase in the parasitemia suppression to 63, 67 and 80 percent as compared to artemisinin single treatment (31%). Using subcutaneous administration, at 10 mg/kg BW of TA164 in combination with 1.7 mg/kg BW of artemisinin gave a suppression of 80% of infection. This study showed that combination treatment of TA164 with artemisinin gives a promising potential anti malaria candidate using both oral and subcutaneous route, the later being the most potent.
artemisinine ; therapeutic aspects ; Psychological suppression ; Laboratory mice ; Subcutaneous

Malaria is suspected in pregnant women with fever of unknown origin who come from areas with high transmission of the disease. Pregnant women are at greater risk of infection due to a weakened immune response and higher parasite burden because of placental sequestration. A 26-year-old Sudanese primigravid 23 6/7 weeks of gestation presented at our institution with mixed infection of malaria, with severe features (hypotension and anemia). Malaria was highly suspected due to her country of origin, which was highly endemic and has high transmission of the disease. Fetal surveillance to monitor fetal well-being was done since malaria is known to cause perinatal adverse outcomes. Intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labor and stillbirth are the most common perinatal morbidity from malaria. These are not present in the patient due to the prompt initiation of artemisinin-based combination therapy, which significantly decreased the parasite load, leading to successful outcome.

Human ; Female ; Adult (a Person 19-44 Years Of Age) ; Pregnancy ; Artemisinine ; Artemisinins ; Parasites ; Coinfection ; Malaria ; Prenatal Care ; Parasite Load ; Gravidity ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Anemia ; Hypotension