Table 3.  Pharmacokinetic parameters for dihydroartemisinin in humans

Dose (mg/kg)

Route

Subjects

(n)*

Cmax (µg/l)

tmax

(min)

t½

(min)

V/F

(l/kg)

CL/F

(l/h/kg)

Ref.

1.1 -  2.2

oral

6; H

130 - 710

80

94 - 98

 

 

116

8.0

rectal

5; H

110

4.7 h

4.8 h

 

 

116

1.2

oral

6;PF

490

80

58

1.8

1.35

18

300 mg

300 mg

oral

oral + M

10; H

653

624

84

84

51

52

3.5

3.2

2.6

2.6

101

300 mg

oral

8; H

679

90

76

5.5

3.2

97

2.3

oral

8; PF

1052

127

53

-

-

25

2.3

oral

7; H

483

150

61

-

-

25

DHA pharmacokinetic parameters after administration of artesunate

 

3.8

i.v.

4; H

3350

8.7

48

 

 

158

2.5

i.v.

6; PF

>2000

-

34

 

 

13

2.6

rectal

6; H

240

 

58

 

 

19

2.6

oral

6; H

570

30 - 60

39

 

 

20

3.0

oral

10; CPF

664

100

60

 

 

22

2.4

i.v.

26; PF

2640

9

40

0.76

0.75

17

1.8

oral

24; PF

735

90

39

 

 

17

2.5

i.v.

12; PV

2200

8

37

0.92

1.10

16

1.9

oral

11; PV

850

75

40

 

 

16

2.23

i.v.

12; PF severe

2417

10.4

40

0.77

1.09

36

2.16

i.v.

8; PF moderately severe

2530

9.9

64

1.01

0.73

36

4.9

i.v. infusion; 4h

10; PF moderately severe

910

240; end infusion

46

0.78

0.73

36

2.4

i.v.

17; H

923

12

50

-

-

25

3.0

oral

10; H

768

70

46

-

-

25

6.0

oral

10; CPF

1920

-

72

-

-

120

15.0

rectal

9; CPF

480

-

42

-

-

120

300 mg

oral

8; H

500

90

106

-

-

98

300 mg††

oral

8; H

928

90

104

-

-

98

1.8

rectal

12; CPF

180

68

-

-

-

50

3.1

oral

rectal

12; H

874

386

56

108

-

-

-

102

10

20

rectal

rectal

10; PF

16; PF

682

882

102

108

47

51

 

4.4

5.9

1.3

1.1

73

DHA pharmacokinetic parameters after administration of artemether

 

200 mg

oral

6; H

380

6 h

10.6 h

 

 

100

200 mg

oral

8; PF

590

7.4 h

12.5 h

 

 

100

5.0

oral

8; H

286

1.8 h

1.9 h

 

 

132

5.0

Oral

8;H

885

2.8 h

5.5 h

 

 

131

6

Oral

13;P

450

3 h

2.9 h

 

 

62

7.0

Oral

50;P

196-354

6 h

 

 

 

63

5.0

i.m.

8; H

40

7.0 h

 

 

 

132

5.0

rectal

8; H

25

3.5 h

 

 

 

132

3.5

oral

6; H

273

1.9 h

 

 

 

94

 

* H = healthy volunteers, PF = adult patients with falciparum malaria, PV = adult patients with vivax malaria, CPF = child patients with falciparum malaria, Cmax=maximum plasma concentration; tmax=time of maximum concentration; t1/2=elimination half-life; ka=first order absorption rate constant; V/F= volume of distribution after non-i.v. administration; CL/F=clearance after non-i.v. administration