Artesunate Plus
Artesunate Plus is a herbal supplement containing Artesunate and Clove.
Artesunate
Artesunate is a derivative of artimisinin, a natural product from a herb called wormwood.
It has long been used in medicine as a vermifuge, an antispasmodic, and in the treatment of chronic fever and inflammation of the liver. It also has anti-bacteria, anti-viral, and anti-fungus effects.
Artesunate contains sesquiterpene trioxane lactone,which has anti-malarial action. This anti-malarial action of artesunate involves the formation of free radicals which mediate eradication of the malaria mosquito species.
The malaria parasite, due to its living in the red blood cell, has a high amount of iron, and Artesunate loves a rich iron environment. When Artesunate comes into contact with all of that iron, free radicals are formed, which destroys the parasite. Drawing from this success, it was reasoned that cancer cells, with their "significantly more intracellular iron" (cancer cells use more iron to replicate) would succumb to the artesunate, just like the malaria parasite.
Hence, Artesunate action goes beyond malaria parasites. It possesses robust inhibitory effects against virus, protozoa, helminths, and fungi. It has shown to have cytotoxic effects against a variety of cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest, promoting apoptosis, preventing angiogenesis, and abrogating cancer invasion and metastasis.
Artesunate is generally well tolerated. However, there are some side effects such as weakness, loss of appetite, tremors, dizziness, nausea, rashes and hives.
Clove
Clove (Syzygiumaromaticum) is a spice made from the flower buds of an evergreen tree called, the clove tree. Traditionally clove is used in treating worms, viruses, candida, various bacterial and protozoan infections. It owes its anti-microbial actions to its major component, eugenol (85-90%).In 2014, a study by Liu H et al, found that oleanolic acid is one of clove components responsible for its anti-tumour activity against breast cancer cells and other cancer cells. Clove other component, tannins, has been shown to have anthelmintic activity.
Clove also ranks highest in terms of anti-oxidant properties, followed by cinnamon, pepper, ginger, and garlic (Ref: Kumar P et al., 2014).
Clove is generally safe and well tolerated. Some of the mild side effects are mild skin irritation, rash, moth irritation.
Avoid using clove together with other herbs or drugs that can also affect blood clotting.
Benefits of Artesunate Plus
- Anti-bacterial
- Anti-parasites
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-malaria
- Anti-cancer
- Anti-spasmodic
- Anti-pyretic
- Anti-oxidant
Precaution
- Patients who are on anticoagulant/antiplatelets drugs should talk to their physician first before starting on Artesunate Plus.
- Contraindicated for pregnant women or nursing mothers. Long term usage (greater than 2 or 3 months) should be monitored by a healthcare practitioner.
It is available in 2 formulations and dosage forms: capsule and suppository.
Dosage form
Capsule
Active ingredients
- Artesunate 300mg and Clove 300mg
Packing
- 50 capsules
Dosage
- Adult - take 1 capsule 2 times per day (before meals) or as directed by your physician.
- Children - ½ the adult dose.
Dosage form: Suppository
Active ingredients
- Artesunate 250mg and Clove 250mg
Packing
- 30 suppositories
Dosage
- Insert 1 suppository nightly into the rectum, or as directed by your physician
