Pharmacology of Artemisinin

In case the trioxane moiety is cleaved unsymmetrically, the resulting hydroperoxide fragments in a Fenton-like reaction, into energy-rich OH radicals and carbon radicals. 

The symmetric cleavage of the endoperoxide generates high-energy carbon radicals as well, which can alkylate proteins of the parasite and damage the membrane of the food vacuole. 

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German PI, Aweeka FT. Clinical pharmacology of artemisinin-based combination therapies. Clin Pharmacokinet 2008 47(2) 91-102. 

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