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Antiplasmodial natural products: an update
Nasir Tajuddeen1, Fanie R Van Heerden2
1School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa.
Malaria Journal
|December 7, 2019
Summary
Drug-resistant malaria is resurging, necessitating new treatments. A review of natural products from 2010-2017 identified promising compounds with antiplasmodial activity for malaria drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Parasitology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Malaria poses a significant global health threat, with rising drug resistance challenging existing treatments like artemisinin-based combination therapy.
- Despite past successes in malaria control, the parasite's resistance necessitates the urgent discovery of novel anti-malarial drugs.
- This review focuses on natural products exhibiting antiplasmodial activity, a critical area for developing new therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review and analyze natural products with antiplasmodial activity reported between 2010 and 2017.
- To identify promising natural compounds that could serve as leads for new anti-malarial drug development.
- To assess the potential of natural products in targeting malaria parasite strains and blocking disease transmission.
Main Methods:
- Extensive literature searches were conducted across major scientific databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, etc.).
- Keywords related to malaria, Plasmodium, natural products, and antiplasmodial activity were utilized for efficient data retrieval.
- Studies reporting on compounds assayed against Plasmodium strains within the specified timeframe were included.
Main Results:
- A total of 1524 compounds from 397 references were identified, with 39% being novel natural products.
- Approximately 29% of the evaluated compounds demonstrated significant antiplasmodial activity, with IC50 values less than or equal to 3.0 µM.
- Several compounds showed potential for development into effective anti-malarial drugs and for targeting malaria transmission.
Conclusions:
- Natural products represent a vital resource for discovering new anti-malarial drug candidates.
- Further research into natural products targeting gametocytes is crucial for developing strategies to block malaria transmission.
- Continued investigation into natural product-derived compounds is essential to combat drug-resistant malaria and advance eradication efforts.
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