The endoperoxide bridge found in Artemisinin reacts with the mineral iron to form what are known as cytotoxic free radicals. Because of the cytotoxicity, Artemisinin and its derivatives may initiate apoptosis (cellular death) in certain cancer cell lines.
The endoperoxide bridge is necessary for the anti-cancer activities of artemisinin and other derivatives of Artemisia annua. This process occurs through the formation of free radicals. Free radicals cause oxidation, which damage or destroy cells in the body.
Think of oxidation as the rust that forms on a car that gradually eats away at the metal. The same process is true of free radicals on cellular structures. While the actions of artemisinin and its derivatives can destroy cancer cells through a pro-oxidant effect, in normal healthy cells it actually has an anti-oxidant effect.
Compounds found in artemisinin are also believed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, as well as anti-metastasis effects. While these effects may make it plausible as an adjunct chemotherapy drug option, it is also known that artemisinin derivatives are not as potent as currently utilized chemotherapy cancer drugs and have very short plasma half-lives.
As such, use of artemisinin-based therapies would require more frequent treatments as well as higher dosages in order to be effective in cancer treatments. Studies are underway to improve the efficacy and the targeting abilities of these artemisinin compounds found in Sweet Wormwood for cancer treatments.
