From ancient herb to modern miracle: an in-depth analysis of the cardioprotective effects of artemisinin and its derivatives

Significant progress has been recently made in studying artemisinin and its derivatives for treating cardiovascular diseases, making this area a prominent research focus. Artemisinin, discovered with great acclaim, was initially and widely adopted in antimalarial treatments. As scientific research steadily progressed, its latent potential role in the cardiovascular system gradually captured the attention of the global scientific community. Artemisinin and its derivatives can reportedly play a protective role in the cardiovascular system through various mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic effects, as well as the regulation of blood lipids and blood pressure. In particular, they have shown promising therapeutic effects in models of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial ischaemia, and cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, artemisinin and its derivatives can improve cardiovascular function and prevent cardiovascular injury by regulating signalling pathways closely related to cardiovascular disease, such as AMPK and NF-kB. Although numerous ex vivo and in vivo experiments have verified the potential role of artemisinin in treating cardiovascular diseases, systematic studies to comprehensively elucidate its specific mechanism of action remain scarce. Further exploration of the precise roles of artemisinin and its derivatives in cardiovascular disease therapy, along with their potential clinical applications, could offer valuable insights for future research and treatment strategies.