World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ARTEMISININ FROM ARTEMISIA ANNUA: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ITS ANTIMALARIAL POTENTIAL

Dr. Alinda Thomaseena*, M. Ramya, A. Yamuna, M. Suresh

ABSTRACT

Malaria remains one of the world's most serious infectious illnesses, producing major morbidity and mortality, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. The rise of drug-resistant Plasmodium variants has highlighted the urgent need for effective and safe antimalarial medicines. Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone derived from Artemisia annua L., has transformed malaria treatment with its quick and powerful antimalarial effect. The purpose of this review is to provide a complete understanding of artemisinin's botanical profile, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, mechanism of action, therapeutic applications, safety profile, and future prospects. The review focuses on artemisinin's unique endoperoxide bridge, which is critical in producing reactive oxygen species and triggering parasite death. In addition to its known antimalarial activity, artemisinin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and immunomodulatory characteristics, indicating a broad therapeutic potential. Artemisinin derivatives and artemisinin-based combination medicines have considerably improved malaria treatment and contributed to worldwide malaria control efforts. However, issues such as increasing artemisinin resistance and sustainable manufacturing continue to need attention. Overall, artemisinin remains a vital natural-product-derived medication and exemplifies medicinal plants' contribution to modern medicine. Continued research is required to improve therapeutic applications and address future problems in malaria treatment.

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