medical Definition of artesunate
: an antimalarial drug C19H28O8 that is a semisynthetic, water-soluble, derivative of artemisinin taken orally or administered by intramuscular or intravenous injection
- Artemisinin is made from the leaves of the Chinese wormwood shrub, and the drugs artesunate and artemether are derivatives known to kill the parasites that cause malaria.
- —Janet Raloff, Science News, 16 June 2007
Note:
When used orally, artesunate is typically combined with another antimalarial drug, such as mefloquine or amodiaquine.
— compare artemether 
