Figure 5
From: Efficacy of intranasal administration of artesunate in experimental cerebral malaria
Artesunate and dihydroartemisinin blood and brain concentrations following intranasal administration of artesunate. (a) After IN administration, artesunate (ARS) blood concentration reached a very early Cmax (Tmax less than 15 min) and then rapidly converted, showing a short T1/2 (close to 15 min). DHA, its active metabolite, reached an early maximum between 15 and 30 min and then decreased with a T1/2 close to 15 min. (b) No ARS was detected in brains suggesting a prior metabolism before brain diffusion. DHA was detected in brain 15 min after IN administration. DHA brain concentrations globally followed blood concentrations and were about 60% of these.