• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제65권3호
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• pp.167-172
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• 2022

Pathophysiological reaction of platelets in the blood vessel is an indispensable part of thrombosis and cardiovascular disease, which is the most common cause of death in the world. In this study, we performed in vitro assays to evaluate antiplatelet activity of artemether in human platelets and attempted to identify the mechanism responsible for protein phosphorylation. Artemether is a derivative of artemisinin, known as an active ingredient of Artemisia annua, which has been reported to be effective in treating malaria, and is known to function through antioxidant and metabolic enzyme inhibition. However, the role of artemether in platelet activation and aggregation and the mechanism of action of artemether in collagen-induced human platelets are not known until now. In this study, the effect of artesunate on collagen-induced human platelet aggregation was confirmed and the mechanism of action of artemether was clarified. Artemether inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and Mitogen-activated protein kinases, which are phosphoproteins that are known to act in the signal transduction process when platelets are activated. In addition, artemether decreased TXA₂ production and decreased granule secretion in platelets such as ATP and serotonin release. As a result, artemether strongly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, a strong aggregation inducer secreted from vascular endothelial cells, with an IC₅₀ of 157.92 μM. These results suggest that artemether has value as an effective antithrombotic agent for inhibiting the activation and aggregation of human platelets through vascular injury.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제65권4호
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• pp.239-245
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• 2022

지혈이 일어나는 과정에서 혈소판의 정상적인 활성화가 중요하지만, 혈소판의 과도하거나 비정상적인 활성화는 뇌졸중, 죽상동맥 경화증 및 혈전증과 같은 심혈관 질환을 유발할 수 있다. 따라서, 혈소판 활성화를 조절하거나 억제할 수 있는 새로운 물질의 발견은 심혈관 질환의 예방 및 치료에 도움이 될 수 있다. Artemether는 Artemisia annua의 유효성분으로 알려진 artemisinin의 유도체로서 말라리아 치료에 효과적이라고 보고된 바 있고, 항산화 및 대사 효소 억제를 통해 기능하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그런데, 혈소판 활성화 및 응집에 있어서의 artemether의 역할과 collagen으로 유도한 사람 혈소판에서 artemether의 작용기전은 현재까지 알려진 바가 없다. 본 연구는 artemether가 collagen에 의해 유도된 혈소판 활성화와 혈전 형성에 어떤 영향을 미치는 지 연구하였다. 그 결과, cAMP level이 artemether에 의해 유의하게 증가되었고, cAMP-의존성 kinase의 기질인 VASP 및 IP₃R이 인산화되었다. Artemether에 의한 IP₃R 인산화는 세포질 내로의 Ca²⁺ 동원을 억제하였고, 인산화된 VASP는 혈소판 막에 위치한 αIIb/β₃ 불활성화를 일으켜 fibrinogen 결합을 억제하였다. 결과적으로, artemether는 thrombin으로 유도한 fibrin clot의 형성을 억제하였다. 따라서, 우리는 artemether가 과도한 혈소판 활성화 및 혈전 형성으로 인한 심혈관 질환의 효과적인 예방 및 치료제로 작용할 수 있음을 제안한다.

• 생약학회지
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.64-69
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• 2022

When blood vessels are damaged, a rapid hemostatic response should occur in order to lower blood loss and keep normal circulation, and platelet activation and aggregation are essential. Nevertheless, abnormal or excessive platelet aggregation can be a reason of cardiovascular diseases including thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and stroke. Therefore, the screening for a substance which can regulate platelet activation and suppress aggregation reaction is very important for treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Artemether is a methyl ether derivative of artemisinin, which is isolated from the antimalarial plant Artemisia annua, but research on platelet aggregation or its mechanisms is still insufficient. This study identified the effects of artemether on U46619-induced human platelet aggregation and their granule secretion (ATP and serotonin release). In addition, the effects of artemether on the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt or MAPK, which are related to signal transduction in platelet aggregation, were studied. As the results, artemether significantly lowered PI3K/Akt and MAPK phosphorylation, which inhibited platelet aggregation through granule secretion (ATP and serotonin release) dose-dependently. Therefore, we suggest that artemether is an antiplatelet substance that regulates PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathway and is of value as a therapeutic and preventive agent for platelet-derived cardiovascular diseases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.111-114
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• 2007

Chloroquine remains the drug of choice for the treatment of vivax malaria in Thailand. Mixed infections of falciparum and vivax malaria are also common in South-East Asia. Laboratory confirmation of malaria species is not generally available. This study aimed to find alternative regimens for treating both malaria species by using falciparum antimalarial drugs. From June 2004 to May 2005, 98 patients with Plasmodium vivax were randomly treated with either artemether-lumefantrine (n = 47) or chloroquine (n = 51). Both treatments were followed by 15 mg of primaquine over 14 days. Adverse events and clinical and parasitological outcomes were recorded and revealed similar in both groups. The cure rate was 97.4% for the artemether-lumefantrine treated group and 100% for the chloroquine treated group. We concluded that the combination of artemether-lumefantrine and primaquine was well tolerated, as effective as chloroquine and primaquine, and can be an alternative regimen for treatment of vivax malaria especially in the event that a mixed infection of falciparum and vivax malaria could not be ruled out.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2002

The purpose of treatment for uncomplicated malaria is to produce a radical cute using the combination of: artesunate (4 mg/kg/day) plus mefloquine (8 mg/kg/day) for 3 days; a fixed dose of artemether and lumefantrine (20/120 mg tablet) named $Coartem^{\circledR}$ (4 tablets twice a day for three days for adults weighing more than 35 kg); quinine 10 mg/kg 8-hourly plus tetracycline 250 mg 6-hourly for 7 days (or doxycycline 200 mg as an alternative to tetracycline once a day for 7 days) in patients aged 8 years and over; $Malarone^{\circledR}$ (in adult 4 tablets daily for 3 days). In treating severe malaria, early diagnosis and treatment with a potent antimalarial drug is recommended to save the patient's life. The antimalarial drugs of choice are: intravenous quinine or a parenteral form of an artemisinin derivative (artesunate i.v./i.m. for 2.4 mg/kg followed by 1.2 mg/kg injection at 12 and 24 hr and then daily for 5 days; artemether i.m. 3.2 mg/kg injection followed by 1.6 mg/kg at 12 and 24 hrs and then dialy for 5 days; arteether i. m. ($Artemotil^{\circledR}$) with the same dose of artemether or artesunate suppository (5 mg/kg) given rectally 12 hourly for 3 days. Oral arlemisinin derivatives (artesunate, artemether, and dihydroartemisinin with 4 mg/kg/day) could replace parenteral forms when patients can tolerate oral medication. Oral mefloquine (25 mg/kg divided into two doses 8 hrs apart) should be given at the end of the artemisinin treatment course to reduce recrudescence.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제66권
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• pp.105-105
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• 2023

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.494-498
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• 2009

The emergence and spread of drug-resistant malaria parasites is a serious public health problem in the tropical world. Useful antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine have resistance in the world now. Moreover, other antimalarialdrugs such as mefloquine, halofantrine, atovaquone, proguanil, artemether and lumefantrine retain efficacy but have limitations, one of which is their high cost. New antimalarial drugs are clearly needed now. Cytotoxicity assay and susceptibility assay were performed for the selectivity of herb extracts in vitro. On the basis of high selectivity, 4-day suppressive test and survival test were progressed in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. The selectivity of Areca catechu L. (ACL) and butanol extract of ACL (ACL-BuOH extract) were 3.4 and 3.0 in vitro, respectively. Moreover in vivo, 4-day suppressive test showed 39.1 % inhibition effect after treated with 150 mg/kg/day ACL-BuOH to P. berghei-infected mice. Survival test also showed 60% survival rate with ACL-BuOH-treated group while all other group mice died. In this study, ACL and ACL-BuOH were investigated for antimalarial activity in vitro and in vivo and they showed a potent antimalarial activity. In particular,ACL-BuOH could specifically lead higher survival rate of mice in vivo. Therefore ACL-BuOH would be a candidate of antimalarial drugs.