Anti-malarial drug artemisinin, otherwise known as qinghaosu, is being considered by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) for clinical testing against the autoimmune inflammatory disease lupus.

According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), the anti-lupus drug artemisinin discovered by pharmacologist and Nobel Prize laureate Tu Youyou is now in its final phase of clinical review and will be tested for large-scale trials after obtaining an approval from the CFDA.

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"Artemisinin is new to us. We should further study its mechanisms and make the full use of it," Tu said to the NHFPC. She emphasized that health agencies should focus more on artemisinin research as she believes it has great potential of treating a wide range of illnesses She further suggested studying patients' tolerance for repeated drug use. The recent breakthrough Tu is the winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. 

A group of researchers from Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica also sought a permit in May last year to conduct a similar trial of water-soluble artemisinin against lupus. 

Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus, is an autoimmune inflammatory condition in which the body's immune system attacks its own organs and tissues. It can attack different parts of the body including joints, kidneys, blood, brain, lungs and heart. 

Diagnosing the disease poses some difficulties at it can mimic other ailments, while its distinct manifestation includes a facial rash similar to butterfly wings across both cheeks. Some people have the tendency to develop lupus eventually but the disease can be triggered with drugs, infections and even sun exposure. Currently, palliative care is recommended as there is no specific drug to treat the disease.

Tagslupus, anti-malaria drug, artemisinin, herbal medication