[HTML][HTML] Artemisone effective against murine cerebral malaria

JH Waknine-Grinberg, N Hunt, A Bentura-Marciano… - Malaria journal, 2010 - Springer
JH Waknine-Grinberg, N Hunt, A Bentura-Marciano, JA McQuillan, HW Chan, WC Chan…
Malaria journal, 2010Springer
Background Artemisinins are the newest class of drug approved for malaria treatment. Due
to their unique mechanism of action, rapid effect on Plasmodium, and high efficacy in vivo,
artemisinins have become essential components of malaria treatment. Administration of
artemisinin derivatives in combination with other anti-plasmodials has become the first-line
treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. However, their efficiency in cases of
cerebral malaria (CM) remains to be determined. Methods The efficacy of several …
Background
Artemisinins are the newest class of drug approved for malaria treatment. Due to their unique mechanism of action, rapid effect on Plasmodium, and high efficacy in vivo, artemisinins have become essential components of malaria treatment. Administration of artemisinin derivatives in combination with other anti-plasmodials has become the first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. However, their efficiency in cases of cerebral malaria (CM) remains to be determined.
Methods
The efficacy of several artemisinin derivatives for treatment of experimental CM was evaluated in ICR or C57BL/6 mice infected by Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Both mouse strains serve as murine models for CM.
Results
Artemisone was the most efficient drug tested, and could prevent death even when administered at relatively late stages of cerebral pathogenesis. No parasite resistance to artemisone was detected in recrudescence. Co-administration of artemisone together with chloroquine was more effective than monotherapy with either drug, and led to complete cure. Artemiside was even more effective than artemisone, but this substance has yet to be submitted to preclinical toxicological evaluation.
Conclusions
Altogether, the results support the use of artemisone for combined therapy of CM.
Springer