Artemisinin-d₃is intended for use as an internal standard for the quantification of artemisinin . Artemisinin is an endoperoxide antimalarial agent with anticancer activity.^1,2It reduces the growth of variousP. falciparumstrainsin vitro(IC₅₀s = 3.98-20.36 nM) and reduces parasitemia in mice infected withP. falciparumwith a curative dose (CD₅₀) value of 140 mg/kg.^1,3It also reducesP. bergheiinfection in mice (ED₅₀= 5.6 mg/kg per day).⁴Artemisinin (100-400 μM) induces cell cycle arrest in the G₀/G₁phase and apoptosis and inhibits growth of SK-N-AS, BE(2)-C, SK-N-DZ, and SHEP1 neuroblastoma cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.²It also suppresses BE(2)-C cell colony formation in a soft agar assay and reduces tumor growth in a BE(2)-C mouse xenograft model. Formulations containing artemisinin have been used in combination therapies for the treatment of malaria.

1.Akoachere, M., Buchholz, K., Fischer, E., et al.In vitro assessment of methylene blue on chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains reveals synergistic action with artemisininsAntimicrob. Agents Chemother.49(11)4592-4597(2005) 2.Zhu, S., Liu, W., Ke, X., et al.Artemisinin reduces cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in neuroblastomaOncol. Rep.32(3)1094-1100(2014) 3.Robert, A., Benoit-Vical, F., Claparols, C., et al.The antimalarial drug artemisinin alkylates heme in infected miceProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.102(38)13676-13680(2005) 4.Chawira, A.N., Warhurst, D.C., Robinson, B.L., et al.The effect of combinations of qinghaosu (artemisinin) with standard antimalarial drugs in the suppressive treatment of malaria in miceTrans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg.81(4)554-558(1987)