ArtemisiaArtemisia A link A link betweenbetween art, ... art, ...

and and sciencescience

Chris J. van Boxtel, MD, PhDChris J. van Boxtel, MD, PhD

Inclusion of Inclusion of artemether/lumefantrine on the artemether/lumefantrine on the Model List of Essential Drugs at the Model List of Essential Drugs at the 12th Expert Committee on the 12th Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Selection and Use of Essential Medicines Meeting, 15-19 April Medicines Meeting, 15-19 April 2002.2002.

Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi: Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi: Father and Daughter Painters in Father and Daughter Painters in Baroque Italy. The Metropolitan Baroque Italy. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Feb. 14 –May 12, Museum of Art, Feb. 14 –May 12, 2002.2002.

Oratio Gentileschi (1563-Oratio Gentileschi (1563-1639) and his daughter 1639) and his daughter Artemisia (1593-1652), Artemisia (1593-1652), were among the most were among the most important Italian baroque important Italian baroque painters who worked in painters who worked in RomeRomeduring the first decades during the first decades of the 17th century.of the 17th century.

ArtemisiaArtemisiaartemisia annuaartemisia annua (Sweet (Sweet

Annie)Annie)artemisia absinthiaartemisia absinthia

(Wormwood) (Wormwood)

Artemis Artemis

The Greek name for Diana, The Greek name for Diana, the virgin goddess of the hunt the virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon; the daughter of and the moon; the daughter of Zeus and the sister of Apollo.Zeus and the sister of Apollo.

When Shakespeare makes a reference to When Shakespeare makes a reference to artemisia absinthia in artemisia absinthia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAMA MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM he talks about “he talks about “Dian's bud”.Dian's bud”.

ArtemisiaArtemisia

Artemisia (d. about 350 BC), the widow Artemisia (d. about 350 BC), the widow of King Mausolus of Caria, erected his of King Mausolus of Caria, erected his tomb (Mausoleum) at Halicarnassus tomb (Mausoleum) at Halicarnassus (now Bodrum, Turkey). (now Bodrum, Turkey).

This Artemisia was well known for her This Artemisia was well known for her love of her botanical gardens. love of her botanical gardens.

Artemisia annua Artemisia annua derivedderived

antimalarialsantimalarials• Rapid clinical and parasitological cureRapid clinical and parasitological cure• Gametocyte carrier rate reductionGametocyte carrier rate reduction• Generally extremely well toleratedGenerally extremely well tolerated • As yet no documented parasite As yet no documented parasite

resistanceresistance• Remarkable mechanism of actionRemarkable mechanism of action• Some “mysterious” Some “mysterious” neurotoxicityneurotoxicity in in

animalsanimals

Artemisinin DerivativesArtemisinin Derivatives

O

O

O

H

RR

R: =OR: =O artemisininartemisininR: OHR: OH dihydroartemisinindihydroartemisininR: OCH3R: OCH3 artemetherartemetherR: C2H5R: C2H5 arteetherarteetherR: OR: O22CCHCCH22CHCH22COCO22H H artesunic acidartesunic acidR: OCHR: OCH22CC66HH55COCO22H H artelinic acidartelinic acid

O

““The Passion of The Passion of Painting”Painting”

• Artemisia accused her teacher Agostino Artemisia accused her teacher Agostino Tassi of raping her when she was Tassi of raping her when she was nineteen.nineteen.

• Oratio filed suit against Tassi; the Oratio filed suit against Tassi; the transcripts of the seven-month-long trial transcripts of the seven-month-long trial survived.survived.

• The court tried to force Artemisia by The court tried to force Artemisia by torture to withdraw her accusations.torture to withdraw her accusations.

• Tassi was probably convicted but served Tassi was probably convicted but served no longer than a year in prison.no longer than a year in prison.

MonoterpenesMonoterpenes pinene in turpentinepinene in turpentinethujone in absinthethujone in absinthe

SesquiterpenesSesquiterpenesArtemisinin and Artemisinin and

derivativesderivatives

Artemisia absinthia Artemisia absinthia contains an active contains an active narcotic derivative, narcotic derivative, which can cause central which can cause central nervous system nervous system disorders and disorders and generalised mental generalised mental deteriorationdeterioration.

AbsintheAbsinthe

The original absinthe was created The original absinthe was created in 1792 as a medicine to treat in 1792 as a medicine to treat malaria.malaria.

By 1915 absinthe was banned in By 1915 absinthe was banned in France and the U.S.France and the U.S.

Aniseed was substituted for Aniseed was substituted for wormwood to create a number of wormwood to create a number of imitations like anisette, anise, imitations like anisette, anise, Pernod, Pastis and ouzo in Pernod, Pastis and ouzo in Greece.Greece.

Judith and HolofernesJudith and HolofernesJudith was a Jewish widow whose Judith was a Jewish widow whose town, Bethulia, was under siege town, Bethulia, was under siege by the army of the Assyrian by the army of the Assyrian general, Holofernes. She general, Holofernes. She went to Holofernes' tent as an went to Holofernes' tent as an emissary and seduced him.emissary and seduced him.Helped by her maid, Abra, Judith Helped by her maid, Abra, Judith then decapitated Holofernes in his then decapitated Holofernes in his sleep and smuggled his head back sleep and smuggled his head back to Bethuliato Bethulia

ConclusionConclusion

Beware of the Beware of the neurotoxicityneurotoxicity of of

ArtemisiaArtemisia