Total Synthesis and Biological Investigation of (-)-Artemisinin: The Antimalarial Activity of Artemisinin Is not Stereospecific.

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl

Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, 04301, Leipzig, Germany.

Published: July 2018

AI Article Synopsis

  • The research presents a new, efficient method to synthesize both (-)-artemisinin and its natural counterpart (+)-artemisinin using common chemicals extracted from citronellene.
  • The team investigated the action of artemisinin against the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite, finding that its antimalarial activity is not dependent on its molecular stereochemistry.
  • This innovative approach to synthesizing artemisinin derivatives could lead to new treatments, particularly in the fight against the growing resistance of malaria parasites to existing artemisinin therapies.

Article Abstract

Here, we describe an efficient and diversity-oriented entry to both (-)-artemisinin (1) and its natural antipode (+)-artemisinin, starting from commercially and readily available S-(+)- and R-(-)-citronellene, respectively. Subsequently, we answered the still open question regarding the specificity of artemisinins action. By using a drug-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum NF54 strain, we showed that the antimalarial activity of artemisinin is not stereospecific. Our straightforward and biomimetic approach to this natural endoperoxide enables the synthesis of artemisinin derivatives that are not accessible through applying current methods and may help to address the problem of emerging resistance of Plasmodium falciparum towards artemisinin.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201802015DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

antimalarial activity
8
activity artemisinin
8
artemisinin stereospecific
8
plasmodium falciparum
8
total synthesis
4
synthesis biological
4
biological investigation
4
investigation --artemisinin
4
--artemisinin antimalarial
4
artemisinin
4

Similar Publications

Background: Amiodarone, a common antiarrhythmic drug, is known for its severe side effects, including pulmonary toxicity, which involves oxidative stress and apoptosis. Artemisinin, an antimalarial drug, has shown cytoprotective properties by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis. This study investigated the protective effects of artemisinin against amiodarone-induced toxicity in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and mouse models.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The treatment and control of malaria in Africa is challenged by drug resistance, including transporter, folate pathway, and PfK13 mutations that mediate resistance to aminoquinolines, antifolates, and artemisinins, respectively. Characterization of drug susceptibility informs optimal control strategies.

Methods: We characterized ex vivo susceptibilities to nine drugs of isolates collected from individuals presenting with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in eastern (2019-2024) and northern (2021-2024) Uganda using a growth inhibition assay and the dihydroartemisinin (DHA) ring survival assay (RSA).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Quinine inhibits myogenic differentiation by disrupting AKT signaling pathway.

Toxicol Res

January 2025

Department of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University, 13-13 Hayang-ro, Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan-Si, Gyeongbuk 38430 Republic of Korea.

Sarcopenia is a disease characterized by decreased muscle fibers and mass. Although it mainly affects the older adults, it can also occur in various age groups as a secondary effect of medications used for treating certain diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. With population aging, sarcopenia has drawn significant attention owing to its increasing prevalence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Acetyl CoA synthetases (ACS) have emerged as drug targets for the treatment of cancer, metabolic diseases as well as fungal and parasitic infections. Although a variety of small molecule ACS inhibitors have been discovered, the systematic optimization of these molecules has been slowed by a lack of structural information regarding their mechanism of inhibition. Through a chemical genetic-based, synthetic lethal screen of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, we identified an isoxazole-based ACS inhibitor with antifungal activity and exquisite selectivity for the C.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hypoxic tumors present a significant challenge in cancer therapy due to their ability to adaptation in low-oxygen environments, which supports tumor survival and resistance to treatment. Enhanced mitophagy, the selective degradation of mitochondria by autophagy, is a crucial mechanism that helps sustain cellular homeostasis in hypoxic tumors. In this study, we develop an azocalix[4]arene-modified supramolecular albumin nanoparticle, that co-delivers hydroxychloroquine and a mitochondria-targeting photosensitizer, designed to induce cascaded oxidative stress by regulating mitophagy for the treatment of hypoxic tumors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!