artesunate
noun
\
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.
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