Studies on the Critical Therapeutic Role of Artemisinin and its Derivatives in Melanoma: a Review of Preclinical Evidence.

opinion statementAs a type of skin cancer, melanoma is characterized by a high rate of recurrence and metastasis, making it one of the leading causes of mortality associated with skin cancer. With the continuous advancement in technology, current treatment options for melanoma and metastatic melanoma have significantly improved; however, the threat posed by melanoma still warrants attention from the broader population. Artemisinin, derived from the plant Artemisia annua, is recognized as a promising drug molecule that demonstrates effective activity against both malaria and cancer. In this study, artemisinin and its derivatives (such as artemisinic acid, artesunate, and dihydroartemisinin) were shown to possess inhibitory effects on melanoma and ocular melanoma Further investigations revealed that the efficacy of these compounds is primarily linked to their ability to reduce melanin content, inhibit melanogenesis and cellular proliferation, suppress tumor growth in murine models, counteract tumor metastasis and angiogenesis, as well as promote apoptosis. The core mechanisms underlying these effects may be associated with signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MALAT918/YAP, along with those related to angiogenesis. In this study, we reviewed the inhibition of melanoma angiogenesis by natural products and its potential mechanisms using literature from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Ovid, ScienceDirect, Geenmedica, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. The search timeframe spans from the inception of the database to September 2025. Inclusion criteria encompass original English-language research articles, clinical trials, case reports, and relevant reviews focusing on the mechanisms, efficacy, or clinical applications of artemisinin derivatives in melanoma and ocular melanoma. Exclusion criteria include non-English literature, studies not directly related to melanoma, ocular melanoma, or the antitumour effects of artemisinin, and inaccessible Chinese-language literature. We additionally identified supplementary eligible studies through manual screening of reference lists from relevant literature.This study emphasizes the critical role of artemisinin and its derivatives in combating melanoma and ocular melanoma. The aim is to facilitate further development and utilization of these compounds while providing relevant insights for clinical research endeavors.