Stereochemistry | ABSOLUTE |
Molecular Formula | C15H24O5 |
Molecular Weight | 284.3481 |
Optical Activity | UNSPECIFIED |
Defined Stereocenters | 8 / 8 |
E/Z Centers | 0 |
Charge | 0 |
SHOW SMILES / InChI
SMILES
[H][C@@]12CC[C@@H](C)[C@]3([H])CC[C@@]4(C)OO[C@@]13[C@]([H])(O[C@H](O)[C@@H]2C)O4
InChI
InChIKey=BJDCWCLMFKKGEE-ISOSDAIHSA-N
InChI=1S/C15H24O5/c1-8-4-5-11-9(2)12(16)17-13-15(11)10(8)6-7-14(3,18-13)19-20-15/h8-13,16H,4-7H2,1-3H3/t8-,9-,10+,11+,12+,13-,14-,15-/m1/s1
Molecular Formula | C15H24O5 |
Molecular Weight | 284.3481 |
Charge | 0 |
Count |
MOL RATIO
1 MOL RATIO (average) |
Stereochemistry | ABSOLUTE |
Additional Stereochemistry | No |
Defined Stereocenters | 8 / 8 |
E/Z Centers | 0 |
Optical Activity | UNSPECIFIED |
Artemether is an antimalarial agent used to treat acute uncomplicated malaria. It is administered in combination with lumefantrine for improved efficacy against malaria. Artemether is rapidly metabolized into an active metabolite dihydroartemisinin (DHA). The antimalarial activity of artemether and DHA has been attributed to endoperoxide moiety. Artemethe involves an interaction with ferriprotoporphyrin IX (“heme”), or ferrous ions, in the acidic parasite food vacuole, which results in the generation of cytotoxic radical species. The generally accepted mechanism of action of peroxide antimalarials involves interaction of the peroxide-containing drug with heme, a hemoglobin degradation byproduct, derived from proteolysis of hemoglobin. This interaction is believed to result in the formation of a range of potentially toxic oxygen and carbon-centered radicals. Other mechanisms of action for artemether include their ability to reduce fever by production of signals to hypothalamus thermoregulatory center. Now, recent research has shown the presence of a new, previously unknown cyclooxygenase enzyme COX-3, found in the brain and spinal cord, which is selectively inhibited by artemether, and is distinct from the two already known cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-1 and COX-2. It is now believed that this selective inhibition of the enzyme COX-3 in the brain and spinal cord explains the ability of artemether in relieving pain and reducing fever which is produced by malaria. The most common adverse reactions in adults (>30%) are headache, anorexia, dizziness, asthenia, arthralgia and myalgia.
CNS Activity
Approval Year
Doses
AEs
Overview
CYP3A4 | CYP2C9 | CYP2D6 | hERG |
---|---|---|---|
OverviewOther
Other Inhibitor | Other Substrate | Other Inducer |
---|---|---|
Drug as perpetrator
Drug as victim
Sourcing
PubMed
Sample Use Guides
Adults and children: 25 mg/kg on the first day followed by 12.5 mg/kg on the second and third days in combination with mefloquine (15 mg/kg) in a single dose on the second day. In some areas, a higher dose (25 mg/kg) of mefloquine may be required for a cure to be obtained.
Route of Administration:
Oral