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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Selection of Plasmodium falciparum Parasites for Cytoadhesion to Human Brain Endothelial Cells
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Published on: January 3, 2012

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Emerging avenues for the management of cerebral malaria

Nivedita Das1, Priyanka Prabhu1

  • 1Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai, India.

The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
|April 16, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cerebral malaria (CM) treatment faces challenges like drug resistance and poor brain targeting. New strategies focus on neuroinflammation, targeted drug delivery, and drug repurposing to improve outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Malariology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection.
  • Its pathogenesis involves erythrocyte invasion, cerebral vascular sequestration, neuroinflammation, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of CM pathogenesis.
  • To discuss treatment challenges.
  • To explore potential therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of CM pathogenesis.
  • Analysis of current treatment limitations.
  • Identification of emerging therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

  • Treatment roadblocks include artemisinin resistance and poor drug brain penetration, leading to high-dose toxicity.
  • Neurological sequelae are a significant concern.
  • There's a critical need for agents targeting oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and BBB integrity.

Conclusions:

  • Research is exploring anti-neuroinflammatory compounds and brain-targeted nanocarriers.
  • Drug repurposing and combination therapies (antimalarial + anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory) are promising.
  • Clinical trial protocols need to integrate neurological monitoring alongside parasite load and survival assessments.
Keywords:
Plasmodium falciparumartemethercerebral malariacombination therapyinflammationnanocarriers

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