The birth of artemisinin.

As the first-line antimalarial drugs, artemisinins gained wide acceptance after the emergence of resistance to chloroquine in the 1950s. Artemisinin-based drugs have saved lives, especially in developing countries. The discovery of artemisinin was unique, timely, and fascinating, and the benefits of artemisinin were with far-reaching implications. Herein, we will give a brief description of various aspects of the development of artemisinin and discuss the position and perspectives of artemisinin-based drugs.