The clinical application of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been hampered due to its poor water-solubility. To overcome this hurdle, we devised a novel polymer-drug conjugate, multiarm polyethylene glycol-dihydroartemisinin (PEG-DHA), made by linking DHA with multiarm polyethylene glycol. Herein, we investigated PEG-DHA on chemical structure, hydrolysis, solubility, hemolysis, cell cytotoxicity in...

The desaturation of [1-(14)C] 18:3n-3 to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) is enhanced in an essential fatty acid deficient cell line (EPC-EFAD) in comparison with the parent cell line (EPC) from carp. In the present study, the effects of DHA on lipid and fatty acid compositions, and the metabolism of [1-(14)C]18:3n-3 were investigated in EPC-EFAD cells in comparison with EPC cells. DHA suppl...

In this study a factorial design was used to optimize process conditions produce spray-dried powder of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) with ?-cyclodextrin (?-CD). Predicted for maximum yield and minimum residual moisture were as follows: inlet temperature; 120 °C, aspirator setting; 100%, feed rate; 25%, molar ratio DHA:?-CD; 1:2. The higher percent inclusion obtained in the lower DHA:?-CD. DHA existe...

The clinical efficacy of the monotherapy involving the administration of a high dose of dihydroartemisinin (DHA 900 mg) for 5 days was compared with that of the combination regimen (DHA 600 mg + mefloquine [MQ] 750 mg) in an open randomized study in 90 patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the southern part of Viet Nam. Patients were randomly treated with the DHA-5 day monotherapy r...

OBJECTIVE Chronic alcohol dependence has been associated with disturbed behavior, cerebral atrophy and a low plasma concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22∶6n-3), particularly if liver disease is present. In animal models, excessive alcohol consumption is reported to reduce brain DHA concentration, suggesting disturbed brain DHA metabolism. We hypothesized that brain DHA metabolism also ...

To determine the reductive process of extracellular dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), molecules (homocysteine, homocysteine thiolactone, methionine, cysteine, and homoserine) were tested to identify those with the potential to reduce DHA to ascorbic acid (AA). Homocysteine (Hcy) was the most potent of the molecules tested. The efficacy of Hcy was compared with that of other molecules able to reduce D...

The effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) with two lipid types on lipid peroxidation of the brain was investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Each group of female Balb/c mice was fed a diet containing DHA-connecting phospholipids (DHA-PL) or DHA-connecting triacylglycerols (DHA-TG) for 5 wk. Safflower oil was fed as the control. The lipid peroxide level of t...

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), have been reported to play roles in preventing cardiovascular diseases. The major source of DHA is fish oils but a recent increase in the global demand of DHA and decrease in fish stocks require a substitute. Thraustochytrids, unicellular marine protists belonging to the Chromista kingdom, can synthesize large ...

The aim of this study was to elucidate the metabolic pathways for dihydroartemisinin (DHA), the active metabolite of the artemisinin derivative artesunate (ARTS). Urine was collected from 17 Vietnamese adults with falciparum malaria who had received 120 mg of ARTS i.v., and metabolites were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Human liver microsomes we...

Despite being critical for normal brain function, the pools that supply docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to the brain are not agreed upon. Using multiple kinetic models in free-living adult rats, we first demonstrate that DHA uptake from the plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) pool predicts brain uptake of DHA upon oral administration, which enters the plasma NEFA pool as well as multiple plasma ...