Artemisinin are not limited to the treatment of malaria, and  wealth of studies demonstrating the activity of artemisinin and its derivatives against cancer cells, anti-inflammatory effects against SLE, RA, allergic asthma and as  antiviral agent in various viral diseases including single stranded RNA virus Hepatitis C. Artesunate has concentration dependent killing effects on malaria and other viral infections with autoinduction of its own metabolism. Thus, initial high IV doses, short course of Artesunate therapy may be very useful as an antiviral agent in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. Artemisinin class of compounds have several multiple beneficial effects that are important for different diseases, might be more versatile and more successful. Artesunate a multifunctional molecule with favourable PK/PD characteristics, is a perfect potential option for urgent treatment of symptomatic COVID-19 infection. Due to its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anticytokine, multiorgan protective properties and antiviral activity against wide varieties of viruses including SARS-CoV-2 in-vitro. It has also synergistic effects with other antiviral drugs; decreases viral replication and decreases TNF-α and IL-6 levels, which are key in COVID-19 induced cytokine storm and ARDS.

Keywords: Artesunate, Antiviral, COVID-19, Anti-inflammatory, Anticytokine, immunomodulatory, Antioxidant, IL-6, TNF-α.

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Dr (Prof.) Butungeshwar Pradhan

VSSIMSAR, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, India Pin-768017