Immunomodulation of artemisinin and its derivatives

In the 1970s, artemisinin (“qinghaosu” in Chinese), a sesquiterpene lactone with an unusual peroxide bridge, was isolated from Artemisia annua L. It showed promising antimalarial activity, particularly by eliminating parasites resistant to chloroquine. For more than 30 years, artemisinin has contributed to worldwide health as a new type of antimalarial drug. Artemisinin and its analogs, such as dihydroartemisinin, artemether, artesunate, artemiside, artemisone, and arteether, possess not only potent antimalarial activity but also anti-viral, antifungal, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of how artemisinin and its analogs affect the immune system and immune-related diseases.