Artemisinin

Artemisinin for Dogs: Its Uses and Anti-Cancer Effects

Artemisinin is extracted from the plant Artemisia annua. Other names include sweet wormwood and, in traditional Chinese medicine, Qinghao or Qinghaosu. Some veterinarians are starting to use artemisinin for dogs with cancer due to some interesting research.

Artemisinin has been used as a fever reducer for more than two thousand years and has also been utilized to treat malaria, particularly in drug-resistant cases.¹

Many of the artemisinin compounds being researched for cancer treatment are synthetic or semi-synthetic derivatives.^1,2 These more selective derivatives show improved safety profiles and prolonged effectiveness over the original compound.^1,3 New research is looking into pairing artemisinin derivatives with other carrier agents or packaging them into nanoparticles to improve their efficacy and limit side effects.¹²

Unfortunately, over the years, malaria has begun to develop artemisinin resistance. At this time it is unclear as to whether resistance could impact the compound’s use in cancer treatment.^1,4

Artemisin’s Evidence for Efficacy

Artemisinin has the potential to affect cancer cells in a variety of ways, though most include either triggering apoptosis (death) of abnormal cells or helping prevent metastasis (spread) of tumors throughout the body.¹

One important way that artemisinin induces apoptosis is by reacting with iron, which is elevated inside neoplastic (cancerous) tissue, to create free radicals that subsequently damage the cells.² Because the increased iron content is found within the abnormal tissue, artemisinin is able to specifically target these cells while sparing most normal tissue.¹

Early canine research shows promising results including short-term stabilization of disease in tumors that have previously failed treatment⁴ and increased survival times when used in conjunction with other treatment modalities.⁵ Studies have documented artemisinin’s ability to target tumor cells while sparing normal tissue.¹

One case report in a human with a laryngeal tumor showed a greater than 70% reduction in the size of the mass and a significant improvement in quality of life⁶

Common Uses for Artemisinin

Historically, artemisinin has been used primarily as a treatment for drug-resistant malaria.¹ It is under investigation for use in humans in the treatment of breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, kidney and bladder cancers, melanoma, lymphoma, lung cancer, retinoblastoma, and more.¹

In dogs, artemisinin has been investigated for use against histiocytic sarcomas, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, and more.^4,5,7 A study looking at artemisinin use in dogs with cancer who had failed other treatment options showed a short-term stabilization of disease (i.e. weeks) in approximately a third of the dogs, with one dog having complete resolution of a histiocytic sarcoma.⁴ Another study showed improved survival times for dogs treated with artemisinin alongside other treatment modalities.⁵

Artemisinin’s Side Effects

Early studies documented significant and severe side effects in animals including life-threatening neurologic and cardiac toxicities. However, further research has concluded that these negative effects likely resulted from administering high concentrations of artemisinin derivatives through injectable routes.⁴ Oral use seems much better tolerated.

The most common side effects include:^4,7

• Fever
• Decreased appetite
• Vomiting
• Anemia

Some people taking artemisinin derivatives have reported dizziness or vertigo which resolved when the supplement was discontinued.¹ Side effects seem to be more likely when artemisinin is combined with other treatments,¹ so it is important always to discuss all of the medications and supplements that your dog is taking before starting artemisinin.

What Can Artemisin Be Used Alongside?

Artemisinin is under investigation for use alongside other treatment modalities, including chemotherapy and radiation.^1,8 The compound shows the potential to not only help sensitize tumors to radiation^9,10 and chemotherapy agents but also to have a synergistic (additive) effect with other drugs.^1,8

Additionally, some studies are looking at using iron in conjunction with artemisinin to increase its effectiveness.⁵ However, limited data on the use of artemisinin with other treatments is currently available. Discuss the use of artemisinin with your veterinarian to determine if the supplement is appropriate for your pet.

When to Not Use Artemisinin with Your Dog

Limited data exists on adverse interactions with other treatment modalities and supplements, so it’s important to discuss the use of artemisinin with your veterinarian to determine if the supplement is appropriate for your pet.

How to Give Artemisinin

Artemisinin is commercially available in powder and capsule form. There is some evidence that using whole dried leaf Artemisia may result in improved bioavailability over more purified forms.^11,13

It is generally recommended to give artemisinin daily with food. The interaction between food and artemisinin is currently being investigated^11,13 and the influence of food on the absorption of artemisinin is unclear at this time.

What If I Miss a Dose?

If you miss a dose, restart the supplement at the next scheduled dose.

Storage and Handling

For storage and handling directions, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Why Aren’t More Veterinarians Using Artemisinin? Bioavailability.

Artemisinin is a promising drug. So why don’t veterinarians heavily embrace it?

One barrier to artemisinin use in veterinary medicine may be the compound’s poor bioavailability. Research has suggested that dogs may not absorb artemisinin well through their gastrointestinal tract.⁷

When something doesn’t absorb well, increased doses may be needed in order to get a reasonable dose into the bloodstream. But giving very large doses isn’t always feasible, especially to dogs who object to being pilled or eating large amounts of herbs.

Further investigation is needed into more recently developed derivatives to determine if these may be more effective in dogs.

Our Take on Artemisinin

Artemisinin has long been used to treat drug-resistant malaria and shows promise as a cancer treatment, mainly through its ability to specifically target abnormal tissue and induce the death of cancer cells. Recently developed derivatives may increase the effectiveness of the compound while also decreasing side effects.

Early research in dogs suggests that artemisinin may be able to help stabilize tumors that have failed to respond to other treatments as well as increase survival times when used alongside other treatment modalities. When taken orally, artemisinin is relatively well tolerated in dogs with the most common side effects being decreased appetite, vomiting, and fever. Unfortunately, study results suggest that dogs may not absorb artemisinin well, and this may limit the compound’s use in veterinary medicine.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding bioavailability, artemisinin, and its derivatives are probably worth discussing with your veterinarian given their ability to specifically target cancerous tissue, application to a wide variety of tumor types, and minimal side effects when given orally.