A simplified liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for artesunate and dihydroartemisinin, its metabolite, in human plasma.

Artesunate (AS) is a potent antimalarial that is used worldwide for the treatment of malaria. A simple method with a total run time of 12 min was developed and validated for the quantification of AS and dihydroartemisinin (DHA), its active metabolite, in human (heparinized) plasma based on one-step protein precipitation in acetonitrile using artemisinin (ARN) as an internal standard, followed by liquid chromatography with a single quadrupole mass spectrometry system connected to a C18 column. Peak area ratio responses were fitted to the 2nd-order curve type, polynomial equation with weighting (1/concentration) over a quantification range between 3.

Antimalarial activities and therapeutic properties of febrifugine analogs.

Febrifugine is the active principal isolated 50 years ago from the Chinese herb chang shan (Dichroa febrifuga Lour), which has been used as an antimalarial in Chinese traditional medicine for more than 2,000 years. However, intensive study of the properties of febrifugine has been hindered for decades due to its side effects. We report new findings on the effects of febrifugine analogs compared with those of febrifugine extracted from the dry roots of D.