[Artemisinin (wormwood)](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/artemisia-annua) >Artemisinin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of _Leishmani donovani_ promastigotes [(8)](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/artemisia-annua#references-8). It has antiproliferative effects on medullary thyroid carcinoma cells [(2)](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/artemisia-annua#references-2), and induces apoptosis in a lung cancer cell line by modulating p38 and calcium signaling [(14)](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/artemisia-annua#references-14). In another study, it significantly inhibited cell growth and proliferation, and caused G1 cell-cycle arrest in neuroblastoma cell lines [(25)](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/artemisia-annua#references-25). Dihydroartemisinin, a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin, demonstrates anti-inflammatory activity by attenuating COX-2 production via downregulation of serine/threonine kinase and MAPK pathways  [(24)](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/artemisia-annua#references-24). Recent findings suggest that dihydroartemisinin-triggered apoptosis in colorectal cells occurs through the ROS-mediated mitochondria-dependent pathway [(26)](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/artemisia-annua#references-26) Many of the research studies use dihydroartemisinin, which is a metabolite of artemisinin. Seems you can find it but only as a "research" product. This substance is most commonly used as an anti-malaria drug, but is picking up a lot of interest in cancer applications now. #research Dihydroartemisinin has been shown to induce the apoptosis of hepatoma (liver) cancer cells. Here are a couple of providers: [Dihydroartemisinin - Apoptosis | NF-κB | Parasite | Autophagy](https://www.targetmol.com/compound/Dihydroartemisinin?utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=Dihydroartemisinin) [Low Price Dihydroartemisinin Powder CAS 71939-50-9 Manufacturers, Suppliers - Factory Direct Wholesale - Mellon](https://mellonpharm.com/herbal-products/herabl-extracts/dihydroartemisinin-powder-cas-71939-50-9.html) [Effects of dihydroartemisinin, a metabolite of artemisinin, on colon cancer chemoprevention and adaptive immune regulation](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35040004/) It seems it works well in conjunction with [butyric acid](Butyric%20acid.md), a common gut health supplement: [Synergistic cytotoxicity of artemisinin and sodium butyrate on human cancer cells](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16309236/) Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) enhances the anticancer properties of artemisinin against colorectal cancer cell lines. Finding 5-ALA on the other hand seems tricky, no luck yet: Source: [Mechanistic Investigation of the Specific Anticancer Property of Artemisinin and Its Combination with Aminolevulinic Acid for Enhanced Anticolorectal Cancer Activity](https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acscentsci.7b00156) Important: >Artemisinin should not be combined with [radiation therapy](../3.6%20%20Standard%20care/Radiation%20therapy.md) because radiation treatments release iron stored in cancer cells to surrounding tissue. For best results, patients are encouraged to wait until at least two months after their last radiation treatment before beginning artemisinin. >However, artemisinin is compatible with chemotherapy. In a study published in 2002, German researcher T. Efferth, Ph.D., tested artemisinin in combination with 22 chemotherapy drugs and found that artemisinin enhanced the drugs’ effectiveness. When artemisinin is used in combination with chemotherapy, it should be taken several hours after the chemotherapy treatment ends. When taken in combination with chemotherapy, artemisinin does not alleviate chemotherapy’s side effects. >Source: [What is Artemisinin - World Health Source, LLC](https://worldhealthsource.com/studies/what-is-artemisinin/) Counterview to the not with radiation therapy guidance (specific to lung cancer though): [Dihydroartemisinin Reduces Irradiation-Induced Mitophagy and Radioresistance in Lung Cancer A549 Cells via CIRBP Inhibition - PMC](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9410454/) No effect with or without food it seems: Source: [Effect of food intake on pharmacokinetics of oral artemisinin in healthy Vietnamese subjects - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9145871/)