Artesunate (ART) exerts strong and broad antiviral activity.
Induction of ART resistance of HCMV was not observed in vitro.
Upregulation of NF-κB signaling in reporter cell clones and HCMV-induced NF-κB promoter activity was inhibited by ART.
NF-κB p65 was captured by immobilized ART and ART-binding peptides within p65 were suggested by mass spectrometry.
Chemical derivatives of ART including trimers and dimers showed enhanced anti-HCMV activity.