Heme synthesis increases artemisinin-induced radical formation and cytotoxicity that can be suppressed by superoxide scavengers
S Zhang, H Chen, GS Gerhard - Chemico-biological interactions, 2010 - Elsevier
Artemisinin (ART) is a sesquiterpene lactone natural product that is widely used to treat multi-
drug resistant strains of malaria. Artemisinin and its derivatives are also selectively cytotoxic
to cancer cells, which can be modulated by altering heme synthesis. Cytotoxicity to cancer
cells is thought to involve generation of oxidative stress, although conflicting data exist. We
have analyzed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using the fluorescent probes 2′,
7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF) and dihydroethidine (HET) upon exposure …
drug resistant strains of malaria. Artemisinin and its derivatives are also selectively cytotoxic
to cancer cells, which can be modulated by altering heme synthesis. Cytotoxicity to cancer
cells is thought to involve generation of oxidative stress, although conflicting data exist. We
have analyzed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using the fluorescent probes 2′,
7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF) and dihydroethidine (HET) upon exposure …