Malaria: Introductory Concepts, Resistance Issues and Current Medicines

Abstract

Malaria continues to be the main community health problem in numerous nations. Six species of Plasmodium are documented as the cause of human malaria infection. Among others, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax parasites produce an immense challenge in the public health. Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae are the major transimmiter of the disease (malaria) from one person to another. The disease parasite has a complicated cycle of life that occurs in human and mosquitoes. In general, malaria diagnosis is divided into parasitological and clinical diagnosis. Internationally, the death rate of malaria becomes reduced although few records from Ethiopia describe the presence of raised prevalence of malaria in certain areas. Apart from reduction in incidence and prevalence, transmission of malaria is continued throughout the globe. Hence, its control needs a combined approach comprising treatment with effective antimalarial agents. A lot of novel compounds are under pre-clinical and clinical studies that are triggered by the occurrence of resistance among commonly used antimalarial drugs. In addition to the already known new compounds and targets for drug discovery, scientists from all corner of the world are in search of novel targets and chemical entities.

Acriflavine, an Acridine Derivative for Biomedical Application: Current State of the Art

“…Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that attacks red blood cells. The problem in the effective treatment of this disease is resistance to the drugs used so far . The antimalarial activity of ACF was first demonstrated in 2014 by scientists from India, who based their conclusion on previous studies reporting the antimalarial properties of acridine derivatives. , ACF was found to kill Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites in vitro , including those resistant to chloroquine, and to act in vivo in a mouse model system against the rodent-specific parasite Plasmodium berghei .…”