Artemether is a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin (qinghaosu), a naturally occurring peroxide lactone derived from a traditional Chinese herbal remedy Artemisia annua L., to enhance the solubility and antimalarial activity of its parental compound. Artemether exhibits potent antimalarial and antischistosomal activities against malarial parasites and Schistosoma japonicum infections. Although it has not been well elucidated, an endoperoxide bridge within the chemical structure of Artemether might be the key characteristic considered to be responsible for its antimalarial and antischistosomal activities, which can be metabolized by malarial or schistosomal parasites, under in vivo conditions, generating detrimental oxygen radicals to attack parasite macromolecules.
Reference
[1].Xiao Shuhua and Brian A. Catto. In vitro and in vivo studies of the effect of artemether on Schistosoma mansoni. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY 1989, 1557-1562