The oral environment provides suitable conditions for the colonization of various microorganisms. However, the oral microbials could be the initial factors of some kinds of oral
infectious diseases, therefore the treatment against oral microbial pathogens has become an effective strategy.
Artemisinin, a kind of
sesquiterpene lactone extracted from
Traditional Chinese Medicine Artemisia annua L., is the first-line
therapy to treat tertian
malaria, subtertian
malaria and anti-
chloroquine malaria for its high efficiency and low toxicity. In recent years,
artemisinin and its derivatives have also been proven to be effective against bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, and
tumors, some of which are closely related to oral diseases. In this review, we summarize the potential effects of
artemisinin and its derivatives on oral microorganism by analyzing previous research and latest progress to provide the evidence for further improvement, and look forward to the new research directions. Further studies are needed to improve existing technologies and standards to clarify the effects of
artemisinin and its derivatives on microorganisms with controversial effects, to expand the detection of microorganisms associated with oral
infectious diseases, and to clarify the interaction with existing
antifungal agents in the field of antifungal diseases. In addition, in the study of anti-oral
infectious diseases,
artemisinin and its derivatives' administration scheme, potential drug interactions, toxic and side effects and other aspects are necessary conditions for further research, which is also a new direction of research. With the maturity of the production process, the improvement of relevant research and the potential demand for the treatment of oral
infectious diseases,
artemisinin and its derivatives have a broad prospect in the field of oral microorganisms, and provide a new opportunity for the research and development of oral drugs.