How might qinghaosu (artemisinin) and related compounds kill the intraerythrocytic malaria parasite? A chemists view

The antimalarial. mechanism of qinghaosu (artemisinin) has been a problem since the late 1970s. During the past decade, several molecular level theories were postulated. However, their further development has been very difficult. By looking into the QHS cleavage process and all possible reaction paths available to the resulting transient radicals, the present commentary reveals,those major hidden problems with the existing theories and tries to identify some essential features of the parasiticidal events that may take place within the intraerythrocytic malaria parasite. A seemingly more reasonable theory is also introduced.