Therapeutic potential of artesunate in retinal diseases: from mechanism to clinical applications.

Artesunate is a derivative of artemisinin, and due to its high solubility, and it has a broader application in clinical settings. Extensive research has confirmed that artemisinin-based drugs show significant activities in anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-viral, and anti-angiogenesis aspects, suggesting that artesunate might have potential in treating retinal diseases. Currently, the etiology of most retinal diseases is not fully understood, and there is a lack of effective treatment methods. This paper summarized the research progress of artesunate in the treatment of retinal diseases, including retinoblastoma, choroidal melanoma, diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, proliferative retinopathy, and ocular neovascularization. In addition, the potential applications and future research directions of artesunate in the treatment of retinal diseases were also discussed.