artesunate

noun

ar·​tes·​u·​nate är-ˈte-zə-ˌnāt How to pronounce artesunate (audio)
: 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

Note: When used orally, artesunate is typically combined with another antimalarial drug, such as mefloquine or amodiaquine.

compare artemether

Dictionary Entries Near artesunate

Cite this Entry

“Artesunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/artesunate. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!