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Basaki M, Hashemvand A, Tayefi-Nasrabadi H, Panahi Y, Dolatyari M. Artemisinin and l-carnitine combination therapy alters the erythrocytes redox status. Cell Biol Int 2022; 46:1137-1143. [PMID: 35293664 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoiesis is a sensitive target of artemisinin (ART) and its derivatives, and hemolysis is one of their commonly reported side effects. L-carnitine (LC), an amino acid derivative involved in lipid metabolism, is beneficial for hematological parameters. Sixty adult laboratory mice were randomly divided into six groups. Group I (control) received saline and corn oil; groups II and III received therapeutic (50 mg/kg) and toxic (250 mg/kg) doses of ART, respectively; groups IV and V received 370 mg/kg LC along with the 50 and 250 mg/kg ART, respectively; and group VI received 370 mg/kg LC. Drugs were administered orally for seven consecutive days. The erythrocyte glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX) activity, and the reduced glutathione (GSH) level were assessed by colorimetric methods. ART reduced the G6PD activity both at therapeutic and toxic doses. The therapeutic dose of ART reduced the CAT activity and the GSH level, non-significantly. The toxic dose of ART reduced the CAT activity and increased the POX activity. LC reduced the G6PD, CAT, and POX activities and increased GSH level. The therapeutic dose of ART and LC showed synergy in reducing the G6PD activity. LC and ART combination reduced POX activity and increased GSH level without any significant effect on the CAT activity. Inhibition of G6PD may be a potentially new mechanism of ART action. Co-administration of LC with ART or following treatment with ART may have protective effects on erythrocytes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Basaki
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Akbar Hashemvand
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hossein Tayefi-Nasrabadi
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yousef Panahi
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahdi Dolatyari
- DVM Student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
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Amadi PU, Agomuo EN, Ukaga CN, Njoku UC, Amadi JA, Nwaekpe CG. Preclinical Trial of Traditional Plant Remedies for the Treatment of Complications of Gestational Malaria. MEDICINES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 8:79. [PMID: 34940291 PMCID: PMC8703497 DOI: 10.3390/medicines8120079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Most pregnant women living in high malaria endemic regions of Nigeria use herbal remedies for the management of malaria-in-pregnancy, rather than the commonly prescribed drugs. Remedies common to this area involve a suspension of A. indica (AI) leaves and in some cases, a suspension containing a mixture of AI and D.edulis (PS). Aim: This study examined the therapeutic efficacies of AI, PS, or a combination of AI and PS in a pregnant rat model for exoerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Method: A predetermined sample size of 30 dams was used (for a power level and confidence interval of 95%), and divided equally into six groups made up of non-malarous dams, untreated malarous dams, and malarous dams either treated exclusively with 1 mL of 3000 mg/kg b.w AI, 1000 mg/kg b.w PS, AI + PS (50% v/v), or 25 mg/kg b.w CQ. Result: No maternal mortality was recorded. AI significantly improved maternal weight gain from 32.4 to 82.2 g and placental weight from 0.44 to 0.53 g. In the curative test, AI and AI + PS significantly reduced the average percentage parasitemia (APP) in the pregnant rats from >80% to <20%. No significant difference in the APP was found between the pregnant rats treated with any of CQ or AI during the suppressive test. Results for the prophylactic test of the study groups showed that the APP was significantly reduced from 24.69% to 3.90% when treated with AI and 3.67% when combined with PS. AI + PS reduced diastolic blood pressure from 89.0 to 81.0 mm/Hg and compared with that of the non malarous dams. AI or AI + PS significantly increased the platelet counts (103 µL) from 214.1 to 364.5 and 351.2, respectively. AI and AI + PS improved birth weight from 2.5 to 3.9 g and crown rump length from 2.6 to 4.1 cm. For biomarkers of preeclampsia, combining AI and PS led to the reversal of the altered levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin, soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1, and placental growth factor. Conclusions: This study validates the use of A. indica for the treatment of gestational malaria due to its antiplasmodial and related therapeutic effects and in combination with pear seeds for the management of malaria-in-pregnancy-induced preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chinyere Nneka Ukaga
- Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Imo State University, Owerri 460102, Nigeria;
| | - Uche Chinedu Njoku
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Choba 500102, Nigeria;
| | - Joy Adaku Amadi
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Imo State University, Owerri 460102, Nigeria;
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Wang L, Guo W, Haq SU, Guo Z, Cui D, Yang F, Cheng F, Wei X, Lv J. Anticoccidial Activity of Qinghao Powder Against Eimeria tenella in Broiler Chickens. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:709046. [PMID: 34712720 PMCID: PMC8546117 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.709046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisia annua (AAH) is traditionally used as an anti-malarial, expectorant and antipyretic Chinese medicine. The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect of Qinghao Powder (QHP) on chicken coccidiosis, evaluate the safe dosage of QHP, and provide test basis for clinical medication. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) were used to detect artemisinin in Qinghao Powder (QHP) for quality control. The level of artemisinin in QHP was 81.03 mg/g. A total of 210 chicks (14 days of age) were divided randomly into seven groups: three QHP treatments (0.15, 0.30, and 0.60 g/kg), a toltrazuril control (1.00 mL/L), a sulfachloropyrazine sodium control (SSC, 0.30 g/L), an E. tenella-infected control, and a healthy control group. All the groups were inoculated orally with 7 × 104E. tenella oocysts except for the healthy control group. After seven days of administration, compared with the infected control group, chicks which were administered QHP, SS, and toltrazuril showed less bloody feces, oocyst output, and cecal lesions, and the protection rates were improved. The maximum rBWG and ACI were found in the SS-medicated group, followed by the groups medicated with 0.60 and 0.30 g/kg QHP. Therefore, a 0.30 g/kg dose level of QHP in the feed was selected as the recommend dose (RD) in the target animal safety test, in which 80 broiler chicks (14 days of age) were randomly divided into four major groups (I-healthy control group; II-1× RD; III-3× RD; IV-6× RD), with each group subdivided into two subgroups (A and B) consisting of 10 chicks each. After 7-day (for sub-group A) or 14-day (for sub-group B) administration, compared with the healthy control, treatment-related changes in BWG, feed conversion ratio (FCR), relative organ weight (ROW) of the liver, WBC counts, and levels of RBC, HGB, ALT, AST, and TBIL were detected in the 3× and 6× RD groups. No differences were noted in necropsy for all doses, and histopathological examinations exhibited no QHP-associated signs of toxicity or abnormalities in the liver or kidney. The findings suggest that QHP at a dose of 0.30 g/kg feed would be appropriate for therapy and intermittent treatment of E. tenella-infected chicks, the dosage in clinical applications should be set according to the recommended dose to ensure animal safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wang
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenzhu Guo
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shahbaz Ul Haq
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhiting Guo
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dongan Cui
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Feng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaojuan Wei
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jiawen Lv
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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Xu C, Zhang H, Mu L, Yang X. Artemisinins as Anticancer Drugs: Novel Therapeutic Approaches, Molecular Mechanisms, and Clinical Trials. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:529881. [PMID: 33117153 PMCID: PMC7573816 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.529881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin and its derivatives have shown broad-spectrum antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, outcomes from a limited number of clinical trials provide encouraging evidence for their excellent antitumor activities. However, some problems such as poor solubility, toxicity and controversial mechanisms of action hamper their use as effective antitumor agents in the clinic. In order to accelerate the use of ARTs in the clinic, researchers have recently developed novel therapeutic approaches including developing novel derivatives, manufacturing novel nano-formulations, and combining ARTs with other drugs for cancer therapy. The related mechanisms of action were explored. This review describes ARTs used to induce non-apoptotic cell death containing oncosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. Moreover, it highlights the ARTs-caused effects on cancer metabolism, immunosuppression and cancer stem cells and discusses clinical trials of ARTs used to treat cancer. The review provides additional insight into the molecular mechanism of action of ARTs and their considerable clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cangcang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Huihui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Lingli Mu
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
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Tiwari MK, Chaudhary S. Artemisinin-derived antimalarial endoperoxides from bench-side to bed-side: Chronological advancements and future challenges. Med Res Rev 2020; 40:1220-1275. [PMID: 31930540 DOI: 10.1002/med.21657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
According to WHO World Malaria Report (2018), nearly 219 million new cases of malaria occurred and a total no. of 435 000 people died in 2017 due to this infectious disease. This is due to the rapid spread of parasite-resistant strains. Artemisinin (ART), a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide isolated from traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua, has been recognized as a novel class of antimalarial drugs. The 2015 "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine" was given to Prof Dr Tu Youyou for the discovery of ART. Hence, ART is termed as "Nobel medicine." The present review article accommodates insights from the chronological advancements and direct statistics witnessed during the past 48 years (1971-2019) in the medicinal chemistry of ART-derived antimalarial endoperoxides, and their clinical utility in malaria chemotherapy and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit K Tiwari
- Laboratory of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur, India
| | - Sandeep Chaudhary
- Laboratory of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur, India
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6
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Sheean ME, Malikova E, Duarte D, Capovilla G, Fregonese L, Hofer MP, Magrelli A, Mariz S, Mendez-Hermida F, Nistico R, Leest T, Sipsas NV, Tsigkos S, Vitezic D, Larsson K, Sepodes B, Stoyanova-Beninska V. Nonclinical data supporting orphan medicinal product designations in the area of rare infectious diseases. Drug Discov Today 2019; 25:274-291. [PMID: 31704277 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
This review provides an overview of nonclinical in vivo models that can be used to support orphan designation in selected rare infectious diseases in Europe, with the aim to inform and stimulate the planning of nonclinical development in this area of often neglected diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E Sheean
- Orphan Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Helmholz Association, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Eva Malikova
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; State Institute for Drug Control, Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Comenius University, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Dinah Duarte
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; INFARMED - Autoridade Nacional do Medicamento, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Giuseppe Capovilla
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; C. Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy; Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Fregonese
- Orphan Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matthias P Hofer
- Orphan Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Armando Magrelli
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Segundo Mariz
- Orphan Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fernando Mendez-Hermida
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios, Madrid, Spain
| | - Robert Nistico
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Malta Medicines Authority, San Ġwann, Malta
| | - Tim Leest
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; The Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nikolaos V Sipsas
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Stelios Tsigkos
- Orphan Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dinko Vitezic
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; University of Rijeka Medical School and University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Kristina Larsson
- Orphan Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bruno Sepodes
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; INFARMED - Autoridade Nacional do Medicamento, Lisbon, Portugal; Universidade de Lisboa - Faculdade de Farmácia, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Violeta Stoyanova-Beninska
- Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Medicines Evaluation Board, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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7
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Tiwari MK, Yadav DK, Chaudhary S. Recent Developments in Natural Product Inspired Synthetic 1,2,4- Trioxolanes (Ozonides): An Unusual Entry into Antimalarial Chemotherapy. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:831-846. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190412104042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
According to WHO “World health statistics 2018”, malaria alongside acute respiratory infections
and diarrhoea, is one of the major infectious disease causing children’s death in between the
age of 1-5 years. Similarly, according to another report (2016) malaria accounts for approximately
3.14% of the total disease burden worldwide. Although malaria has been widely eradicated in many
parts of the world, the global number of cases continues to rise due to the rapid spread of malaria parasites
that are resistant to antimalarial drugs. Artemisinin (8), a major breakthrough in the antimalarial
chemotherapy was isolated from the plant Artemisia annua in 1972. Its semi-synthetic derivatives such
as artemether (9), arteether (10), and artesunic acid (11) are quite effective against multi-drug resistant
malaria strains and are currently the drug of choice for the treatment of malaria. Inspite of exhibiting
excellent antimalarial activity by artemisinin (8) and its derivatives, parallel programmes for the discovery
of novel natural and synthetic peroxides were also the area of investigation of medicinal chemists
all over the world. In these continuous efforts of extensive research, natural ozonide (1,2,4-
trioxolane) was isolated from Adiantum monochlamys (Pteridaceae) and Oleandra wallichii (Davalliaceae)
in 1976. These naturally occurring stable ozonides inspired chemists to investigate this novel
class for antimalarial chemotherapy. The first identification of unusually stable synthetic antimalarial
1,2,4-trioxolanes was reported in 1992. Thus, an unusual entry of ozonides in the field of antimalarial
chemotherapy had occurred in the early nineties. This review highlights the recent advancements and
historical developments observed during the past 42 years (1976-2018) focusing mainly on important
ventures of the antimalarial 1,2,4-trioxolanes (ozonides).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit K. Tiwari
- Laboratory of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Jaipur-302017, India
| | - Dharmendra K. Yadav
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Hambakmoeiro 191, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon city, 406-799, Korea
| | - Sandeep Chaudhary
- Laboratory of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Jaipur-302017, India
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8
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Kumari A, Karnatak M, Singh D, Shankar R, Jat JL, Sharma S, Yadav D, Shrivastava R, Verma VP. Current scenario of artemisinin and its analogues for antimalarial activity. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 163:804-829. [PMID: 30579122 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Human malaria, one of the most striking, reemerging infectious diseases, is caused by several types of Plasmodium parasites. Whilst advances have been made in lowering the numbers of cases and deaths, it is clear that a strategy based solely on disease control year on year, without reducing transmission and ultimately eradicating the parasite, is unsustainable. Natural products have served as a template for the design and development of antimalarial drugs currently in the clinic or in the development phase. Artemisinin combine potent, rapid antimalarial activity with a wide therapeutic index and an absence of clinically important resistance. The alkylating ability of artemisinin and its semi-synthetic analogues toward heme related to their antimalarial efficacy are underlined. Although impressive results have already been achieved in malaria research, more systematization and concentration of efforts are required if real breakthroughs are to be made. This review will concisely cover the clinical, preclinical antimalarial and current updates in artemisinin based antimalarial drugs. Diverse classes of semi-synthetic analogs of artemisinin reported in the last decade have also been extensively studied. The experience gained in this respect is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akriti Kumari
- Department of Chemistry, Banasthali University, Banasthali Newai, 304022, Rajasthan, India
| | - Manvika Karnatak
- Department of Chemistry, Banasthali University, Banasthali Newai, 304022, Rajasthan, India
| | - Davinder Singh
- Bio-Organic Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, 180001, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ravi Shankar
- Bio-Organic Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, 180001, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Jawahar L Jat
- Department of Applied Chemistry, BabaSaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya Vihar Raebareli Road, Lucknow, 226025, India
| | - Siddharth Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, India
| | - Dinesh Yadav
- Department of Chemistry, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, India
| | - Rahul Shrivastava
- Department of Chemistry, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, 303007, India
| | - Ved Prakash Verma
- Department of Chemistry, Banasthali University, Banasthali Newai, 304022, Rajasthan, India.
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Totino PRR, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Ferreira-da-Cruz MDF. Evidencing the Role of Erythrocytic Apoptosis in Malarial Anemia. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:176. [PMID: 28018860 PMCID: PMC5145864 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade it has become clear that, similarly to nucleated cells, enucleated red blood cells (RBCs) are susceptible to programmed apoptotic cell death. Erythrocytic apoptosis seems to play a role in physiological clearance of aged RBCs, but it may also be implicated in anemia of different etiological sources including drug therapy and infectious diseases. In malaria, severe anemia is a common complication leading to death of children and pregnant women living in malaria-endemic regions of Africa. The pathogenesis of malarial anemia is multifactorial and involves both ineffective production of RBCs by the bone marrow and premature elimination of non-parasitized RBCs, phenomena potentially associated with apoptosis. In the present overview, we discuss evidences associating erythrocytic apoptosis with the pathogenesis of severe malarial anemia, as well as with regulation of parasite clearance in malaria. Efforts to understand the role of erythrocytic apoptosis in malarial anemia can help to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention based on apoptotic pathways and consequently, mitigate the harmful impact of malaria in global public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo R R Totino
- Laboratory of Malaria Research, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cláudio T Daniel-Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria Research, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Comparative pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous artelinate versus artesunate in uncomplicated Plasmodium coatneyi-infected rhesus monkey model. Malar J 2016; 15:453. [PMID: 27599723 PMCID: PMC5011932 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1456-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The US Army designed artelinate/lysine salt (AL) to overcome the instability of sodium artesunate in aqueous solution (AS). To select the most efficacious artemisinin treatment, direct comparison was performed in an uncomplicated non-human primate malaria model. Methods Splenectomized rhesus monkeys were inoculated with Plasmodium coatneyi and on day six, single equimolar loading dose of IV AL (11.8 mg kg−1) or IV AS (8 mg kg−1) were administered followed by 1/2 the first dose once daily for 2 more days. Blood smear were performed twice daily and the number of parasites were counted microscopically. Blood samples were obtained after the first dose within 6 h for pharmacokinetic (PK) and ex vivo pharmacodynamic evaluation by simultaneously measuring plasma drug concentration and anti-malarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Results The anti-P. coatneyi in vivo activity of both compounds were comparable, but the ex vivo anti-P. falciparum potency of the IV AS regimen as administered was sevenfold higher than that of IV AL. Comparing in vivo pharmacodynamics of AL and AS, daily assessed parasite counts showed comparable 99 % parasite clearance times (PC99: 2.03, 1.84 day), parasite clearance rates (5.34, 4.13 per min) and clearance half-life (PCt1/2: 7.79, 10.1 h). This study showed strong and significant inverse correlation between PCt1/2 and t1/2 of AS + DHA, and AUC0–∞ of DHA, and correlated with Vz of AS (r2 > 0.7, p ≤ 0.002). Lastly, following IV AL, there was a modest inverse correlation between PCt1/2 and Cmax (r2 0.6, p ≤ 0.04). Although all tested monkeys recrudesced subsequently, two died following AL regimen before parasite clearance. While the aetiology of those deaths could not be definitively determined, pathologic evidence favoured a sepsis-like syndrome and suggested that severe malaria was more likely than drug toxicity. Conclusion The model demonstrated that both AS and DHA contributed to the anti-malarial activity of IV AS, while IV AL activity was largely restricted to the parent drug. Parasite clearance was strongly and linearly dependent on drug exposure for both artemisinin regimens. However, IV AS had higher ex vivo potency against P. falciparum, leading to an IND filing for GMP manufactured AS in the United States. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1456-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Malik S, Khan SA, Ahuja P, Arya SK, Sahu S, Sahu K. Singlet oxygen-mediated synthesis of malarial chemotherapeutic agents. Med Chem Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-013-0578-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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12
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Das D, Tripura R, Phyo AP, Lwin KM, Tarning J, Lee SJ, Hanpithakpong W, Stepniewska K, Menard D, Ringwald P, Silamut K, Imwong M, Chotivanich K, Yi P, Day NPJ, Lindegardh N, Socheat D, Nguon C, White NJ, Nosten F, Dondorp AM. Effect of high-dose or split-dose artesunate on parasite clearance in artemisinin-resistant falciparum malaria. Clin Infect Dis 2012; 56:e48-58. [PMID: 23175556 PMCID: PMC3563392 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cis958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
New treatment strategies are needed for artemisinin-resistant falciparum malaria. This randomized trial shows that neither increasing nor splitting the standard once-daily artesunate dose reverses the markedly reduced parasite clearance rate in patients with artemisinin-resistant falciparum malaria. Background. The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinins on the Cambodian and Myanmar-Thai borders poses severe threats to malaria control. We investigated whether increasing or splitting the dose of the short-half-life drug artesunate improves parasite clearance in falciparum malaria in the 2 regions. Methods. In Pailin, western Cambodia (from 2008 to 2010), and Wang Pha, northwestern Thailand (2009–2010), patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were randomized to oral artesunate 6 mg/kg/d as a once-daily or twice-daily dose for 7 days, or artesunate 8 mg/kg/d as a once-daily or twice-daily dose for 3 days, followed by mefloquine. Parasite clearance and recrudescence for up to 63 days of follow-up were assessed. Results. A total of 159 patients were enrolled. Overall median (interquartile range [IQR]) parasitemia half-life (half-life) was 6.03 (4.89–7.28) hours in Pailin versus 3.42 (2.20–4.85) hours in Wang Pha (P = .0001). Splitting or increasing the artesunate dose did not shorten half-life in either site. Pharmacokinetic profiles of artesunate and dihydroartemisinin were similar between sites and did not correlate with half-life. Recrudescent infections occurred in 4 of 79 patients in Pailin and 5 of 80 in Wang Pha and was not different between treatment arms (P = .68). Conclusions. Increasing the artesunate treatment dose up to 8 mg/kg/d or splitting the dose does not improve parasite clearance in either artemisinin resistant or more sensitive infections with P. falciparum. Clinical Trials Registration. ISRCTN15351875.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashish Das
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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13
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Clark RL, Brannen KC, Sanders JE, Hoberman AM. Artesunate and artelinic acid: association of embryotoxicity, reticulocytopenia, and delayed stimulation of hematopoiesis in pregnant rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 92:52-68. [PMID: 21312322 DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.20282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The artemisinin antimalarials cause embryo death and malformations in animals by killing embryonic erythroblasts. Groups of pregnant rats (N = 4) were administered 35 and 48 µmol/kg artesunate and 17.2, 28.7, 48, 96, and 191 µmol/kg artelinic acid as a single oral dose on gestational day (GD) 12. Litters were examined on GD21. The ED(50) for embryo death with artelinic acid (23.4 µmol/kg) was just slightly lower than that for decreased reticulocyte count at 24 hr postdose (33.5 µmol/kg) and both had similarly steep dose responses (maximal effects of total litter loss and ∼60% decreases in reticulocyte count at 48 µmol/kg). Results with artesunate were similar. The correlation coefficient between embryo death and decreased reticulocyte count was 0.82 (p<0.01). The close relationship between embryotoxicity and reticulocytopenia is suggestive of a common mechanism-artemisinin-induced mitochondrial damage leading to cell death. At 9 days postdose, treatment with artesunate and artelinic acid also caused increases in counts of reticulocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, and monocytes (up to 3.7 ×, 1.7 ×, 4.7 ×, and 1.7 × control, respectively). This stimulation of hematopoiesis may have been mediated by the direct oxidative conversion of artesunate or artelinic acid to the artemisininyl hydroperoxide within the bone marrow cells or by an indirect increase in reactive oxygen species. The high correlation between embryotoxicity and reticulocytopenia further supports the assertion that therapeutic dosage regimens of artemisinins that cause decreases in reticulocyte count in pregnant women during the putative critical period (approximately postconception wk 3 to 9) are at risk of also causing adverse effects on the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Clark
- Artemis Pharmaceutical Research, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA.
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14
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Clemmer L, Martins YC, Zanini GM, Frangos JA, Carvalho LJM. Artemether and artesunate show the highest efficacies in rescuing mice with late-stage cerebral malaria and rapidly decrease leukocyte accumulation in the brain. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2011; 55:1383-90. [PMID: 21220531 PMCID: PMC3067152 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01277-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2010] [Revised: 11/19/2010] [Accepted: 01/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The murine model of cerebral malaria (ECM) caused by Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection in susceptible mice has been extensively used for studies of pathogenesis and identification of potential targets for human CM therapeutics. However, the model has been seldom explored to evaluate adjunctive therapies for this malaria complication. A first step toward this goal is to define a treatment protocol with an effective antimalarial drug able to rescue mice presenting late-stage ECM. We evaluated the efficacy of artemisinin, artemether, artesunate, and quinine given intraperitoneally once a day, and combinations with mefloquine, in suppressing PbA infection in mice with moderate parasitemia. Artemether, artesunate, and quinine were then evaluated for efficacy in rescuing PbA-infected mice with ECM, strictly defined by using objective criteria based on the presentation of clinical signs of neurological involvement, degree of hypothermia, and performance in a set of six motor behavior tests. Artemether at 25 mg/kg presented the fastest parasite killing ability in 24 h and fully avoided recrudescence in a 5-day treatment protocol. Artemether and artesunate were equally effective in rescuing mice with late-stage ECM (46 and 43% survival, respectively), whereas quinine had a poor performance (12.5% survival). Artemether caused a marked decrease in brain leukocyte accumulation 24 h after the first dose. In conclusion, artemether and artesunate are effective in rescuing mice with late-stage ECM and decrease brain inflammation. In addition, the described protocols for more strict clinical evaluation and for rescue treatment provide a framework for studies of CM adjunctive therapies using this mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Clemmer
- La Jolla Bioengineering Institute, 3535 General Atomics Court, Suite 210, San Diego, California 92121, IPEC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Y. C. Martins
- La Jolla Bioengineering Institute, 3535 General Atomics Court, Suite 210, San Diego, California 92121, IPEC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - G. M. Zanini
- La Jolla Bioengineering Institute, 3535 General Atomics Court, Suite 210, San Diego, California 92121, IPEC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J. A. Frangos
- La Jolla Bioengineering Institute, 3535 General Atomics Court, Suite 210, San Diego, California 92121, IPEC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - L. J. M. Carvalho
- La Jolla Bioengineering Institute, 3535 General Atomics Court, Suite 210, San Diego, California 92121, IPEC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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15
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Shahbazfar AA, Mardjanmehr SH, Arab HA, Rassouli A, Abdollahi M. Effects of artemisinin in broiler chickens following chronic oral intake. Trop Anim Health Prod 2011; 43:843-9. [PMID: 21197575 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-010-9771-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin has been used for centuries to treat malaria, intestinal tract helminthosis, diarrhea, and used as an antipyretic and sedative agent, but the usage in veterinary medicine is a new field. Recently, it has been used successfully to control experimental poultry coccidiosis. The present study aimed to determine the effects of different doses of artemisinin in broiler chickens with chronic usage. Sixty birds divided into one control and four treatment groups that fed rations mixed with artemisinin at doses of 17, 34, 68, and 136 ppm for 36 days. During the experiment, birds showed no clinical signs except anemia. In microscopic examinations, heart, lung, and spleen had no lesion, but liver, kidney, and brain showed various lesions. Degenerative lesions like intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions were seen in both kidney and liver but fatty change was seen only in liver. There was no relationship between severity of the liver lesions and drug dosage. Central chromatolysis, scattered neuronal necrosis, and mild spongy changes were observed in five regions of the brain that were chosen for sectioning (motor cortex, cerebellar nuclei, midbrain nuclei, and hindbrain nuclei at two separate levels). Severity of lesions in brain was dose-dependent, and cerebral cortex was the most vulnerable area. Haematologic tests showed lower values for hematocrit and red blood cell count dose-dependently. In conclusion, artemisinin is a promising drug for prevention and control of coccidiosis in broiler chickens and its side effects are not too much serious especially at therapeutic doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Ali Shahbazfar
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
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16
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Toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic (TK/TD) evaluation to determine and predict the neurotoxicity of artemisinins. Toxicology 2011; 279:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2010.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2010] [Revised: 08/18/2010] [Accepted: 09/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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17
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Efferth T, Kaina B. Toxicity of the antimalarial artemisinin and its dervatives. Crit Rev Toxicol 2010; 40:405-21. [DOI: 10.3109/10408441003610571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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18
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Wu C. Overview of developmental and reproductive toxicity research in China: history, funding mechanisms, and frontiers of the research. BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH. PART B, DEVELOPMENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY 2010; 89:9-17. [PMID: 20135688 DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.20231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive and developmental toxicology (DART) is the discipline that deals with adverse effects on male and female resulting from exposures to harmful chemical and physical agents. DART research in China boasted a long history, but presently has fallen behind the western world in education and research. The funding mechanisms for DART research in China were similar to that for other toxicological disciplines, and the funding has come from research grants and fellowships provided by national, ministerial, and provincial institutions. Finally, the frontiers of DART research in China could be summarized as follows: (1) use of model animals such as the zebrafish and roundworm, and use of cutting-edge techniques such as stem cell culture, as well as transgenic, metabonomic, and virtual screening to study the mechanisms of developmental toxicity for some important toxicants in China; (2) use of model animals and other lower-level sentinel organisms to evaluate and monitor the developmental toxicogical risk of environmental chemicals or pollutants; (3) epidemiological studies of some important reproductive hazards; (4) in-depth studying of the reproductive and developmental toxicity of some important environmental chemicals; and (5) evaluation and study of the reproductive and developmental toxicity of traditional Chinese medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunqi Wu
- National Beijing Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, Beijing Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology, PR China.
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19
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The distribution pattern of intravenous [14C] artesunate in rat tissues by quantitative whole-body autoradiography and tissue dissection techniques. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2008; 48:876-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2008.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2008] [Revised: 07/01/2008] [Accepted: 07/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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20
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Bienvenu AL, Ferrandiz J, Kaiser K, Latour C, Picot S. Artesunate-erythropoietin combination for murine cerebral malaria treatment. Acta Trop 2008; 106:104-8. [PMID: 18359468 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2007] [Revised: 01/29/2008] [Accepted: 02/04/2008] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral malaria is the most severe and rapidly fatal complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Despite appropriate anti-malarial treatment using quinine or artemisinin derivatives, 10-20% of mortality still occurs during the acute phase. To improve cerebral malaria outcome, adjunctive therapies are clearly needed. Most experiments in this area have been dedicated to immuno-modulation with various successes. Since erythropoietin has been shown to be highly effective in human ischemic stroke and in murine cerebral malaria, we addressed the issue of cerebral malaria outcome improvement by erythropoietin-artesunate drug combination. Compared to the previous study using erythropoietin high doses at the early beginning of the disease, erythropoietin treatment was decreased by six-fold and delayed to the pre-mortem phase. We studied effects on survival and on clinical recovery of the drug combination given from day 6 to day 8 post-infection to CBA/J mice infected by Plasmodium berghei ANKA. We showed that the artesunate-erythropoietin drug combination led to clinical recovery 24 h earlier for surviving mice, and to increase in the global survival rate compared to artesunate monotherapy (p<0.01). Since erythropoietin has no effect on parasite clearance, it could be stated that this drug combination is efficient and that erythropoietin could be a lead for the implementation of a new adjunctive therapy during the acute phase of cerebral malaria.
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21
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Schlitzer M. Malaria Chemotherapeutics Part I: History of Antimalarial Drug Development, Currently Used Therapeutics, and Drugs in Clinical Development. ChemMedChem 2007; 2:944-86. [PMID: 17530725 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.200600240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Since ancient times, humankind has had to struggle against the persistent onslaught of pathogenic microorganisms. Nowadays, malaria is still the most important infectious disease worldwide. Considerable success in gaining control over malaria was achieved in the 1950s and 60s through landscaping measures, vector control with the insecticide DDT, and the widespread administration of chloroquine, the most important antimalarial agent ever. In the late 1960s, the final victory over malaria was believed to be within reach. However, the parasites could not be eradicated because they developed resistance against the most widely used and affordable drugs of that time. Today, cases of malaria infections are on the rise and have reached record numbers. This review gives a short description of the malaria disease, briefly addresses the history of antimalarial drug development, and focuses on drugs currently available for malaria therapy. The present knowledge regarding their mode of action and the mechanisms of resistance are explained, as are the attempts made by numerous research groups to overcome the resistance problem within classes of existing drugs and in some novel classes. Finally, this review covers all classes of antimalarials for which at least one drug candidate is in clinical development. Antimalarial agents that are solely in early development stages will be addressed in a separate review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Schlitzer
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany.
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22
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Gibbons PL, Batty KT, Barrett PHR, Davis TME, Ilett KF. Development of a pharmacodynamic model of murine malaria and antimalarial treatment with dihydroartemisinin. Int J Parasitol 2007; 37:1569-76. [PMID: 17585920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2007.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2007] [Revised: 05/04/2007] [Accepted: 05/10/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Antimalarial treatment strategies based on in vitro studies are limited by the paucity of pharmacodynamic information for dosage regimen design. We postulated that a murine model could be used for pre-clinical stages of drug development, especially in dose-response studies and evaluation of combination therapies. Swiss mice infected with Plasmodium berghei parasites (2-5% starting parasitaemia) were given dihydroartemisinin (0-100 mg/kg single dose). Parasite density was regularly determined from thin blood films. A parasite population growth model comprising parasite multiplication, decline in erythrocyte count with increasing parasitaemia and parasite clearance after drug administration was developed. This model described the rise in parasitaemia following inoculation, the nadir following dihydroartemisinin administration, and the subsequent resurgence of parasitaemia (analogous to 'recrudescence'). At doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg dihydroartemisinin, there was a graded response with 2.5+/-1, 5+/-1 and 12+/-4-fold decreases in parasitaemia, respectively. The nadir parasitaemia (at 21-27 h) was also dose-dependent. This study demonstrates that a murine malaria pharmacodynamic model is a valuable tool for understanding how single drugs and their dosing schedules alter the time course and level of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter L Gibbons
- School of Pharmacy, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
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23
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Xie L, Li Q, Johnson J, Zhang J, Milhous W, Kyle D. Development and validation of flow cytometric measurement for parasitaemia using autofluorescence and YOYO-1 in rodent malaria. Parasitology 2007; 134:1151-62. [PMID: 17445324 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182007002661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYAn automated flow cytometric (FCM) detection method has been developed and validated with a simple diagnostic procedure in parasitized erythrocytes of Plasmodium berghei-infected rats using the nucleic acid-binding fluorescent dye YOYO-1. High levels of reticulocytes were detected during the course of the infection, ranging from 1·2–51·2%, but any RNA potentially confounding the assay could be removed by digestion with RNAse. The cell counts of uninfected, infected, and nucleated cells occurred with high precision. The cells were divided into different populations according to their physical or chemical properties but various factors within the assay such as cell fixation, RNA digestion, and compensation required optimization. In this study, FCM greatly simplified and accelerated parasite detection, with a mean precision of 4·4%, specificity of 98·9% and accuracy of 101·3%. The detection and quantitation limits in the assay were 0·024% and 0·074% parasitaemia, respectively. Overall, the parasite counts by FCM measurement correlated highly (r2=0·954–0·988) with the parasitaemia measured by light microscopical analysis when animals treated with suppressive, clearance, and curative doses of novel antimalarial drugs were examined. The lower levels of parasitaemia (30%) detected by microscopy compared to FCM may be related to a number of schizonts externally attached to the erythrocyte membranes that normally would not be included in microscopy counting. Lower sampling error and reliable identification of rodent erythrocyte parasites based on the principles of FCM have replaced the traditional blood smear in our laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Xie
- Department of Pharmacology, Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
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Li Q, Xie LH, Johnson TO, Si Y, Haeberle AS, Weina PJ. Toxicity evaluation of artesunate and artelinate in Plasmodium berghei-infected and uninfected rats. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2007; 101:104-12. [PMID: 16860356 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2005] [Revised: 04/07/2006] [Accepted: 04/07/2006] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A recent therapeutic index study in rats demonstrated that i.v. artesunate (AS) is safer than artelinate (AL). The present study of acute toxicity illustrated an LD(50) of 177 mg/kg and 488 mg/kg for AL and AS, respectively, following daily i.v. injection for 3 days in Plasmodium berghei-infected rats. In uninfected rats, the LD(50) values were 116 mg/kg and 351 mg/kg after a single dose of AL and AS, respectively. This study showed vascular necrosis in 50% of the animals at 13.5 mg/kg AL and at 42.8 mg/kg AS. Animals also showed moderate signs of renal failure at 40 mg/kg AL and 240 mg/kg AS (100 times higher than the therapeutic dose). Histopathological evaluation demonstrated mild to moderate tubular necrosis in uninfected rats treated with 40 mg/kg AL and 240 mg/kg AS; interestingly, fewer pathological lesions were observed in malaria-infected rats. Renal injury was reversible in all cases by Day 8 after cessation of dosing. No neurotoxicity was seen in any case with all i.v. regimens. In conclusion, AL and AS exhibit less toxic effects in P. berghei-infected rats than in uninfected rats. Both agents caused irreversible vascular irritation, reversible nephrotoxicity and no neurotoxicity at high doses. The data indicate that AS is three times safer than AL in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qigui Li
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20307-5100, USA.
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Xie LH, Li Q, Lin AJ, Smith K, Zhang J, Skillman DS. New potential antimalarial agents: therapeutic-index evaluation of pyrroloquinazolinediamine and its prodrugs in a rat model of severe malaria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2006; 50:1649-55. [PMID: 16641431 PMCID: PMC1472225 DOI: 10.1128/aac.50.5.1649-1655.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetra-acetamide pyrroloquinazolinediamine (PQD-A4) and bis-ethylcarbamyl pyrroloquinazolinediamine (PQD-BE) are new derivatives of pyrroloquinazolinediamine (PQD) and are being investigated as potential chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of malaria. Comparative studies to assess the therapeutic indices of PQD-A4, PQD-BE, and PQD were conducted in Plasmodium berghei-infected rats following daily intragastric dosing for three consecutive days. Artesunate (AS), a standard drug for treatment of severe malaria, was used as a comparator. The minimum doses required to clear malaria parasitemia were 156 micromol/kg of body weight for AS and 2.4 micromol/kg for PQD, PQD-4A, and PQD-BE. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of AS was 625 micromol/kg, and its therapeutic index was calculated to be 4. The MTDs of PQD-A4, PQD-BE, and PQD were found to be 190, 77, and 24 micromol/kg, respectively, yielding therapeutic indices of 80, 32, and 10, respectively. Although PQD-A4 and PQD-BE are only half as potent as PQD based on their curative effects, the two new derivatives, PQD-4A and PQD-BE, are 8.0-fold and 3.2-fold safer, respectively, than their parent compound when they are dosed for three consecutive days. Oral PQD-A4 and PQD-BE are 44 to 70 times more potent on an mg basis than intravenous AS. As assessed from the therapeutic index over 3 days, PQD-A4, PQD-BE, and PQD administered orally are 20.0, 8.0, and 2.5 times safer than AS given intravenously. The results indicate that PQD-4A is a promising candidate for antimalarial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa H Xie
- Department of Pharmacology, Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20307-5100, USA.
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