HealthJuly 17, 2026
artemisinin
/ˌɑːrtɪˈmɪsɪnɪn/
Definition
A potent antimalarial compound derived from the sweet wormwood plant that is used as the foundational component in combination therapies for malaria.
Etymology
The name is derived from 'Artemisia,' the genus of the sweet wormwood plant from which the compound is extracted. The plant name itself honors Artemis, the ancient Greek goddess of nature and the hunt.
In the news
In the article, the emergence of partial resistance to artemisinin is highlighted as a major threat to global malaria control efforts. This resistance complicates treatment, making the disease harder to manage with standard therapies.
Antimicrobial resistance
Read the full article ↗World Health Organization (WHO)