Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) for Malaria Treatment
(image source: Genetic Literacy Project)
Artemisinin
Overview:
Malaria has been a cause of many deaths for a very long time. Malaria is a disease caused by 5 species of the protoctist Plasmodium, however, most of the time(approximately 90% of people) it is caused by Plasmodium Falciparum.
The female mosquito anopheles is the disease vector that transmits the disease from one person to another by feeding on one's blood.
Medical use:
Because malaria causes many people to suffer and eventually, die, it is strongly recommended to take prophylactic drugs before, during, and after visiting places where these mosquitoes are mostly found. These are mefloquine, quinine, and chloroquine. Though, the parasites have developed antibiotic resistance to them and for now, the best available treatment, specifically for Plasmodium falciparum, is ACt artemisinin based combination therapy. The drug is derived from plant Artemisia annua, and is used in combination with mefloquine.
Side-effects:
In general Artemisinin has low toxicity. In malaria treatment, only 3.4 % showed any occurrence of side effects including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. If taken by injection it has caused allergic reactions at the injection site and abscesses.
Other Artemisinin side effects include
abdominal pain
bouts of low fewer
darkening of urine
dizziness
drowsiness
hypertension
Itching, nausea, skin rashes, sweating, tinnitus and vomiting may also occur.
Combinations with other drugs:
Fast acting artemisinin-based compounds are combined with a drug from a different class. Companion drugs include lumefantrine, mefloquine, amodiaquine, sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, piperaquine and chlorproguanil/dapsone. Artemisinin derivatives include dihydroartemisinin, artesunate and artemether.
People with bleeding disorders, ulcer diseases, diabetes, jaundice, malnutrition or suffering from spasms or seizures should also avoid this supplement. Artemisia Annua should also not be taken with other herbal supplements including:
Da Huang, Scientific Name, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Common name Rhubarb Root and Rhizome.
Dang Gui, Radix Angelicae sinensis also known as Chinese Angelica Root, Tang-Kuei or Dong Quai Root
Sheng Di Huang, Radix rehmanniae, also known as Rehmannia Root, Chinese Foxglove Root.
Citation:
Maiga, F.O., Wele, M., Toure, S.M. et al. Artemisinin-based combination therapy for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Mali: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Malar J 20, 356 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-03890-0
Nootriment. "Artemisinin Side Effects, Interactions and Safety Warnings." Nootriment, 12 May 2018, nootriment.com/artemisinin-side-effects/.
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