![]() ![]() ![]() Arsenic was known empirically as a potent medicinal agent as early as 2000 BC (Fig. The origin of the name “arsenic” traces back to the Greek word “ arsenikon” meaning “ potent” (Jolliffe 1993 Hoonjan et al. In this article we review the history and present use of arsenicals in medicine. The discovery of the pentavalent arsenic-containing antibiotic arsinothricin, which is effective against multidrug-resistant pathogens, illustrates the future potential of this new class of organoarsenical antibiotics. These novel arsenicals can be used in combination with existing drugs or serve as valuable alternatives in the fight against cancer and emerging pathogens. Current advances in science and technology can be employed to design newer arsenical drugs with high therapeutic index. In the face of increasing antibiotic resistance and the emergence of deadly pathogens such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, we propose revisiting arsenicals with proven efficacy to combat emerging pathogens. Included are antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic and anticancer applications. Here the ancient and modern medicinal uses of inorganic and organic arsenicals are reviewed. Since then, there has been a renewed interest in the clinical use of arsenicals. In the 1970s, arsenic trioxide, the active ingredient in a traditional Chinese medicine, was shown to produce dramatic remission of acute promyelocytic leukemia similar to the effect of all- trans retinoic acid. The use of most arsenic-based drugs was abandoned with the discovery of antibiotics in the 1940s, but a few remained in use such as those for the treatment of trypanosomiasis. Although infamous for its toxicity, arsenic is paradoxically a therapeutic agent that has been used since ancient times for the treatment of multiple diseases. Arsenicals are one of the oldest treatments for a variety of human disorders. ![]()
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