The global burden of malaria seems unabated. Africa carries the greatest burden accounting for ov... more The global burden of malaria seems unabated. Africa carries the greatest burden accounting for over 95% of the annual cases of malaria. For the vision of a world free of malaria by Global Technical Strategy to be achieved, Africa must take up the stakeholder’s role. It is therefore imperative that Africa rises up to the challenge of malaria and champion the fight against it. The fight against malaria may just be a futile or mere academic venture if Africans are not directly and fully involved. This work reviews the roles playable by Africans in order to curb the malaria in Africa and the world at large.
This study demonstrated the therapeutic potentials of Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil (CMSO) capable... more This study demonstrated the therapeutic potentials of Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil (CMSO) capable of alleviating BPA‐induced dyslipidemia and adipokine dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated the effects of CMSO on adipokine dysfunctions and dyslipidemia in bisphenol‐A (BPA)‐induced male Wistar rats. Six‐week‐old 36 albino rats of 100–200 g weight were assigned randomly to six groups, which received varied doses of BPA and/or CMSO. The administration of BPA and CMSO was done at the same time for 42 days by oral intubation. The adipokine levels and lipid profile were measured in adipose tissue and plasma using standard methods. BPA induced significant (p < .05) increases in triglycerides, cholesterol, leptin, LDL‐C, and atherogenic and coronary risk indices in adipose tissue and plasma, as well as a decrease in adiponectin and HDL‐C levels in Group II animals. BPA administration significantly (p < .05) elevated Leptin levels and reduced adiponectin levels. BPA plus CMSO reduce...
Background: Male reproductive health has deteriorated in recent years as a result of industrializ... more Background: Male reproductive health has deteriorated in recent years as a result of industrialization, which has led to the use of desirable chemicals, like Bisphenol A (BPA), of underlying toxicity. Cucumeropsis mannii seed is a common soup thickener that produces vegetable oil as well as essential nutrients making it a source of nutraceuticals enlisted with a wide range of therapeutic effects. Methods: A total of 48 adult male Wistar rats (120 AE 200g) were used in this study. They were completely randomized and divided into six groups: A (1ml olive oil) irrespective of the weight, B [BPA 100 mg/kg body weight (bw)], C (CMSO 7.5 ml/kg bw), D (CMSO 7.5 ml/kg bw þ BPA 100 mg/kg bw), E (CMSO 5.0 ml/kg bw þ BPA 100 mg/kg bw), and E (CMSO 2.5 ml/kg bw þ BPA 100 mg/kg bw). At the end of the administration via oral routes, rats were sacrificed and testes were collected for biochemistry and histological analysis. Results: BPA significantly (P &lt; 0.05) decreased total testicular protein, epididymal sperm parameters (count, volume, and motility), Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP), body weight, testicular volume; and significantly (P &lt; 0.05) increased testicular enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase), testicular index; plus histological damages. Interestingly, co-administration of BPA and CMSO significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reversed the biochemical and histological changes. Conclusions: CMSO prevented the biochemistry and histological alterations hence reducing the testicular toxicity. Therefore, CMSO has the potential to be a promising novel nutraceutical for the treatment and management of BPA-induced testicular toxicity.
The fight against malaria is a continuum as the epidemic is not abating. For proper deployment of... more The fight against malaria is a continuum as the epidemic is not abating. For proper deployment of tools in the fight against malaria, an assessment of the situation is necessary. This work assessed the level of antimalarial drug treatment failure in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Both survey and in vitro analyses were adopted. The survey was used to obtain qualitative information from both the malaria subjects and the pharmacies where antimalarial drugs are sourced. The results from the survey were complemented by an in vitro assay of the level of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the commonly used artemisinin combination in Nigeria; artemether/lumefantrine. Results from the survey revealed that artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) remain the mainstay in the treatment of malaria, even though other non-artemisinin drugs are still used. It also revealed that many patients still self-medicate, although, this may not be connected to the treatment failure seen among some malaria su...
Lassa fever (LF) is a rodent-borne disease that threatens human health in the sub-region of West ... more Lassa fever (LF) is a rodent-borne disease that threatens human health in the sub-region of West Africa where the zoonotic host of Lassa virus (LASV) is predominant. Currently, treatment options for LF are limited and since no preventive vaccine is approved for its infectivity, there is a high mortality rate in endemic areas. This narrative review explores the transmission, pathogenicity of LASV, advances, and challenges of different treatment options. Our findings indicate that genetic diversity among the different strains of LASV and their ability to circumvent the immune system poses a critical challenge to the development of LASV vaccines/therapeutics. Thus, understanding the biochemistry, physiology and genetic polymorphism of LASV, mechanism of evading host immunity are essential for development of effective LASV vaccines/therapeutics to combat this lethal viral disease. The LASV nucleoprotein (NP) is a novel target for therapeutics as it functions significantly in several asp...
Dissotis rotundifolia is a common medicinal plant in Nigeria. Quantitative phytochemical analyses... more Dissotis rotundifolia is a common medicinal plant in Nigeria. Quantitative phytochemical analyses were carried out in both dry leaf and root samples using spectrophotometric method. The result of phytochemical analysis of the root revealed the presence of alkaloids (463.20±6.70mg/100g), polyphenol (179.80±0.66 mg/100g), flavonoids (144.40±5.60mg/100g), phenol (13100±6.86mg/100g), tannin (126.80±1.76mg/100g), cyanogenic glycoside (75.20±2.20 mg/100g), anthraquinone (40.64±1.26 mg/100g), sapoginin (29.00±0.02 mg/100g), anthocyanin (11.50±1.10mg/100g) and saponin (0.90±0.60 mg/100g). The result also revealed the presence of alkaloids (155.00 ± 38.32mg/100g), phenols (110.80 ± 3.42 mg/100g), polyphenols (139.50 ± 8.08 mg/100g), tannins (89.88 ± 1.84 mg/100g), flavonoids (58.80 ± 5.25 mg/100g), cyanogenic glycosides (58.24 ± 1.76 mg/100g), anthraquinones (27.94 ± 6.04 mg/100g), anthocyanin (13.04 ± 0.87mg/100g), saponins (3.20 ± 0.14mg/100g) and sapoginin (3.09 ± 0.04 mg/100g) in the lea...
Malaria and schistosomiasis are major infectious causes of morbidity and mortality in the tropica... more Malaria and schistosomiasis are major infectious causes of morbidity and mortality in the tropical and sub-tropical areas. Due to the widespread drug resistance of the parasites, the availability of new efficient and affordable drugs for these endemic pathologies is now a critical public health issue. In this study, we report the design, the synthesis and the preliminary biological evaluation of a series of alkoxyamine derivatives as potential drugs against Plasmodium and Schistosoma parasites. The compounds (RS/SR)-2F, (RR/SS)-2F, and 8F, having IC50 values in nanomolar range against drug-resistant P. falciparum strains, but also five other alkoxyamines, inducing the death of all adult worms of S. mansoni in only 1 h, can be considered as interesting chemical starting points of the series for improvement of the activity, and further structure activity, relationship studies. Moreover, investigation of the mode of action and the rate constants kd for C-ON bond homolysis of new alkoxy...
Bisphenol-A (BPA) and its analog are extensively utilized in the production of plastics which are... more Bisphenol-A (BPA) and its analog are extensively utilized in the production of plastics which are rather ubiquitous in our environment. At high temperatures, BPA is leached into water and food packed in plastic containers. This research investigated the ameliorative effects of CMSO on adipokines dysfunction and dyslipidemia in male Wistar rats exposed to Bisphenol-A. thirty-six (36) albino rats weighing 100 - 200 g were randomly assigned into six (6) different experimental groups of controls (1, 2, and 3) and the tests (4, 5, and 6). Group 1 was given only 1 ml of olive oil, group 2 received 100 mg/Kg body weight (b.w) of BPA, group 3 was given 7.5 ml/Kg b.w of CMSO, groups 4, 5, and 6 received 100 mg/Kg b.w of BPA and 7.5, 5 and 2.5 mg/Kg b.w of CMSO respectively. CMSO and BPA were concurrently administered via oral intubation for periods of 42 days. Lipid profile and adipokines levels were determined in plasma and adipose tissue. BPA in male rats significantly (p<0.05) elevated...
Background and objectives: Honey products contain a lot of compounds, such as vitamins, enzymes, ... more Background and objectives: Honey products contain a lot of compounds, such as vitamins, enzymes, and minerals, which make honey and its products a great antioxidant with a critical role in health status. It is well accepted that honey and propolis can improve a lot of health problems when they are consumed in certain quantities. The objective of this study is to help regular blood donors improve their health status after donation. Material and methods: Eighty regular blood donor volunteers—30 males aged 19–61 and 30 females aged 21–64—were divided into 4 groups: group A (n = 20) consumed 2 spoons of Greek honey and 1 drop of propolis per day for 1 month, group B (n = 20) consumed 2 spoons of honey per day for 1 month, group C (n = 20) consumed 1 drop of propolis per day, and group D (n = 20) did not consume any Greek honey products. Blood samples were collected from all participants just before the consumption of the products, one month after the consumption, and six months after ho...
Malaria burden has severe impact on the world. Several arsenals, including the use of antimalaria... more Malaria burden has severe impact on the world. Several arsenals, including the use of antimalarials, are in place to curb the malaria burden. However, the application of these antimalarials has two extremes, limited access to drug and drug pressure, which may have similar impact on malaria control, leading to treatment failure through divergent mechanisms. Limited access to drugs ensures that patients do not get the right doses of the antimalarials in order to have an effective plasma concentration to kill the malaria parasites, which leads to treatment failure and overall reduction in malaria control via increased transmission rate. On the other hand, drug pressure can lead to the selection of drug resistance phenotypes in a subpopulation of the malaria parasites as they mutate in order to adapt. This also leads to a reduction in malaria control. Addressing these extremes in antimalarial application can be essential in maintaining the relevance of the conventional antimalarials in ...
The ‘Blood-Type’ diet advises individuals to eat according to their ABO blood group to improve th... more The ‘Blood-Type’ diet advises individuals to eat according to their ABO blood group to improve their health and decrease the risk of chronic diseases. However, the food preferences of individuals with different blood groups have not been examined. The aim of our study was to investigate, in healthy regular blood donors (rBDs), the associations of smoke, alcohol, caffeine, vitamin and fat intake with their different blood groups and if ABO groups could be a potential predictor tool for disease prevention. A total of 329 volunteers were divided into four groups according to their ABO types: Group 1 (A) comprised 141 rBDs; Group 2 (B), 65 rBDs; Group 3 (O), 96 rBDs; and Group 4, 27 rBDs. Additionally, they were divided into two groups according to their rhesus types and their preferences for smoke, too. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day food recall and the Food Processor computer program for nutrient analysis. Alcohol, caffeine, sugar and Vitamin D consumption were significantly ...
Several measures are in place to combat the worldwide spread of malaria, especially in regions of... more Several measures are in place to combat the worldwide spread of malaria, especially in regions of high endemicity. In part, most common antimalarials, such as quinolines and artemisinin and its derivatives, deploy an ROS-mediated approach to kill malaria parasites. Although some antimalarials may share similar targets and mechanisms of action, varying levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation may account for their varying pharmacological activities. Regardless of the numerous approaches employed currently and in development to treat malaria, concerningly, there has been increasing development of resistance by Plasmodium falciparum, which can be connected to the ability of the parasites to manage the oxidative stress from ROS produced under steady or treatment states. ROS generation has remained the mainstay in enforcing the antiparasitic activity of most conventional antimalarials. However, a combination of conventional drugs with ROS-generating ability and newer drugs that...
Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) are currently the frontline treatment against Plas... more Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) are currently the frontline treatment against Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but parasite resistance to artemisinin (ART) and its derivatives, core components of ACTs, is spreading in the Mekong countries. In this study, we report the synthesis of several novel artemisinin derivatives and evaluate their in vitro and in silico capacity to counteract Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance. Furthermore, recognizing that the malaria parasite devotes considerable resources to minimizing the oxidative stress that it creates during its rapid consumption of hemoglobin and the release of heme, we sought to explore whether further augmentation of this oxidative toxicity might constitute an important addition to artemisinins. The present report demonstrates, in vitro, that FM-AZ, a newly synthesized artemisinin derivative, has a lower IC50 than artemisinin in P. falciparum and a rapid action in killing the parasites. The docking studies for ...
Malaria and Leishmaniasis are two major parasitic diseases, endemic in large areas of tropical co... more Malaria and Leishmaniasis are two major parasitic diseases, endemic in large areas of tropical countries with high morbidity and mortality across the world. Nanoparticles in small sizes are specifically considered in medicine due to their ability to enter the cells, control the distribution of the administered drug and carry the drug specifically to the place of action. The present study aims to introduce the application of silica nanoparticles as new promising nanotools in malaria and leishmaniasis treatment. Ion doped silica nanomaterials revealed antileishmanial activities indicating the positive role of calcium, magnesium and copper to the surface of the particles against Leishmania parasites. Artemisinin-loaded nanoparticles presented the most promising antiparasitic properties with a sustained release able to overcome the parasite invasion. The sustainable release of artemisinin guarantee both the maintenance of its potential efficacy and also introduce an administration of dr...
The global burden of malaria seems unabated. Africa carries the greatest burden accounting for ov... more The global burden of malaria seems unabated. Africa carries the greatest burden accounting for over 95% of the annual cases of malaria. For the vision of a world free of malaria by Global Technical Strategy to be achieved, Africa must take up the stakeholder’s role. It is therefore imperative that Africa rises up to the challenge of malaria and champion the fight against it. The fight against malaria may just be a futile or mere academic venture if Africans are not directly and fully involved. This work reviews the roles playable by Africans in order to curb the malaria in Africa and the world at large.
This study demonstrated the therapeutic potentials of Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil (CMSO) capable... more This study demonstrated the therapeutic potentials of Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil (CMSO) capable of alleviating BPA‐induced dyslipidemia and adipokine dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated the effects of CMSO on adipokine dysfunctions and dyslipidemia in bisphenol‐A (BPA)‐induced male Wistar rats. Six‐week‐old 36 albino rats of 100–200 g weight were assigned randomly to six groups, which received varied doses of BPA and/or CMSO. The administration of BPA and CMSO was done at the same time for 42 days by oral intubation. The adipokine levels and lipid profile were measured in adipose tissue and plasma using standard methods. BPA induced significant (p < .05) increases in triglycerides, cholesterol, leptin, LDL‐C, and atherogenic and coronary risk indices in adipose tissue and plasma, as well as a decrease in adiponectin and HDL‐C levels in Group II animals. BPA administration significantly (p < .05) elevated Leptin levels and reduced adiponectin levels. BPA plus CMSO reduce...
Background: Male reproductive health has deteriorated in recent years as a result of industrializ... more Background: Male reproductive health has deteriorated in recent years as a result of industrialization, which has led to the use of desirable chemicals, like Bisphenol A (BPA), of underlying toxicity. Cucumeropsis mannii seed is a common soup thickener that produces vegetable oil as well as essential nutrients making it a source of nutraceuticals enlisted with a wide range of therapeutic effects. Methods: A total of 48 adult male Wistar rats (120 AE 200g) were used in this study. They were completely randomized and divided into six groups: A (1ml olive oil) irrespective of the weight, B [BPA 100 mg/kg body weight (bw)], C (CMSO 7.5 ml/kg bw), D (CMSO 7.5 ml/kg bw þ BPA 100 mg/kg bw), E (CMSO 5.0 ml/kg bw þ BPA 100 mg/kg bw), and E (CMSO 2.5 ml/kg bw þ BPA 100 mg/kg bw). At the end of the administration via oral routes, rats were sacrificed and testes were collected for biochemistry and histological analysis. Results: BPA significantly (P &lt; 0.05) decreased total testicular protein, epididymal sperm parameters (count, volume, and motility), Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP), body weight, testicular volume; and significantly (P &lt; 0.05) increased testicular enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase), testicular index; plus histological damages. Interestingly, co-administration of BPA and CMSO significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reversed the biochemical and histological changes. Conclusions: CMSO prevented the biochemistry and histological alterations hence reducing the testicular toxicity. Therefore, CMSO has the potential to be a promising novel nutraceutical for the treatment and management of BPA-induced testicular toxicity.
The fight against malaria is a continuum as the epidemic is not abating. For proper deployment of... more The fight against malaria is a continuum as the epidemic is not abating. For proper deployment of tools in the fight against malaria, an assessment of the situation is necessary. This work assessed the level of antimalarial drug treatment failure in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Both survey and in vitro analyses were adopted. The survey was used to obtain qualitative information from both the malaria subjects and the pharmacies where antimalarial drugs are sourced. The results from the survey were complemented by an in vitro assay of the level of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the commonly used artemisinin combination in Nigeria; artemether/lumefantrine. Results from the survey revealed that artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) remain the mainstay in the treatment of malaria, even though other non-artemisinin drugs are still used. It also revealed that many patients still self-medicate, although, this may not be connected to the treatment failure seen among some malaria su...
Lassa fever (LF) is a rodent-borne disease that threatens human health in the sub-region of West ... more Lassa fever (LF) is a rodent-borne disease that threatens human health in the sub-region of West Africa where the zoonotic host of Lassa virus (LASV) is predominant. Currently, treatment options for LF are limited and since no preventive vaccine is approved for its infectivity, there is a high mortality rate in endemic areas. This narrative review explores the transmission, pathogenicity of LASV, advances, and challenges of different treatment options. Our findings indicate that genetic diversity among the different strains of LASV and their ability to circumvent the immune system poses a critical challenge to the development of LASV vaccines/therapeutics. Thus, understanding the biochemistry, physiology and genetic polymorphism of LASV, mechanism of evading host immunity are essential for development of effective LASV vaccines/therapeutics to combat this lethal viral disease. The LASV nucleoprotein (NP) is a novel target for therapeutics as it functions significantly in several asp...
Dissotis rotundifolia is a common medicinal plant in Nigeria. Quantitative phytochemical analyses... more Dissotis rotundifolia is a common medicinal plant in Nigeria. Quantitative phytochemical analyses were carried out in both dry leaf and root samples using spectrophotometric method. The result of phytochemical analysis of the root revealed the presence of alkaloids (463.20±6.70mg/100g), polyphenol (179.80±0.66 mg/100g), flavonoids (144.40±5.60mg/100g), phenol (13100±6.86mg/100g), tannin (126.80±1.76mg/100g), cyanogenic glycoside (75.20±2.20 mg/100g), anthraquinone (40.64±1.26 mg/100g), sapoginin (29.00±0.02 mg/100g), anthocyanin (11.50±1.10mg/100g) and saponin (0.90±0.60 mg/100g). The result also revealed the presence of alkaloids (155.00 ± 38.32mg/100g), phenols (110.80 ± 3.42 mg/100g), polyphenols (139.50 ± 8.08 mg/100g), tannins (89.88 ± 1.84 mg/100g), flavonoids (58.80 ± 5.25 mg/100g), cyanogenic glycosides (58.24 ± 1.76 mg/100g), anthraquinones (27.94 ± 6.04 mg/100g), anthocyanin (13.04 ± 0.87mg/100g), saponins (3.20 ± 0.14mg/100g) and sapoginin (3.09 ± 0.04 mg/100g) in the lea...
Malaria and schistosomiasis are major infectious causes of morbidity and mortality in the tropica... more Malaria and schistosomiasis are major infectious causes of morbidity and mortality in the tropical and sub-tropical areas. Due to the widespread drug resistance of the parasites, the availability of new efficient and affordable drugs for these endemic pathologies is now a critical public health issue. In this study, we report the design, the synthesis and the preliminary biological evaluation of a series of alkoxyamine derivatives as potential drugs against Plasmodium and Schistosoma parasites. The compounds (RS/SR)-2F, (RR/SS)-2F, and 8F, having IC50 values in nanomolar range against drug-resistant P. falciparum strains, but also five other alkoxyamines, inducing the death of all adult worms of S. mansoni in only 1 h, can be considered as interesting chemical starting points of the series for improvement of the activity, and further structure activity, relationship studies. Moreover, investigation of the mode of action and the rate constants kd for C-ON bond homolysis of new alkoxy...
Bisphenol-A (BPA) and its analog are extensively utilized in the production of plastics which are... more Bisphenol-A (BPA) and its analog are extensively utilized in the production of plastics which are rather ubiquitous in our environment. At high temperatures, BPA is leached into water and food packed in plastic containers. This research investigated the ameliorative effects of CMSO on adipokines dysfunction and dyslipidemia in male Wistar rats exposed to Bisphenol-A. thirty-six (36) albino rats weighing 100 - 200 g were randomly assigned into six (6) different experimental groups of controls (1, 2, and 3) and the tests (4, 5, and 6). Group 1 was given only 1 ml of olive oil, group 2 received 100 mg/Kg body weight (b.w) of BPA, group 3 was given 7.5 ml/Kg b.w of CMSO, groups 4, 5, and 6 received 100 mg/Kg b.w of BPA and 7.5, 5 and 2.5 mg/Kg b.w of CMSO respectively. CMSO and BPA were concurrently administered via oral intubation for periods of 42 days. Lipid profile and adipokines levels were determined in plasma and adipose tissue. BPA in male rats significantly (p<0.05) elevated...
Background and objectives: Honey products contain a lot of compounds, such as vitamins, enzymes, ... more Background and objectives: Honey products contain a lot of compounds, such as vitamins, enzymes, and minerals, which make honey and its products a great antioxidant with a critical role in health status. It is well accepted that honey and propolis can improve a lot of health problems when they are consumed in certain quantities. The objective of this study is to help regular blood donors improve their health status after donation. Material and methods: Eighty regular blood donor volunteers—30 males aged 19–61 and 30 females aged 21–64—were divided into 4 groups: group A (n = 20) consumed 2 spoons of Greek honey and 1 drop of propolis per day for 1 month, group B (n = 20) consumed 2 spoons of honey per day for 1 month, group C (n = 20) consumed 1 drop of propolis per day, and group D (n = 20) did not consume any Greek honey products. Blood samples were collected from all participants just before the consumption of the products, one month after the consumption, and six months after ho...
Malaria burden has severe impact on the world. Several arsenals, including the use of antimalaria... more Malaria burden has severe impact on the world. Several arsenals, including the use of antimalarials, are in place to curb the malaria burden. However, the application of these antimalarials has two extremes, limited access to drug and drug pressure, which may have similar impact on malaria control, leading to treatment failure through divergent mechanisms. Limited access to drugs ensures that patients do not get the right doses of the antimalarials in order to have an effective plasma concentration to kill the malaria parasites, which leads to treatment failure and overall reduction in malaria control via increased transmission rate. On the other hand, drug pressure can lead to the selection of drug resistance phenotypes in a subpopulation of the malaria parasites as they mutate in order to adapt. This also leads to a reduction in malaria control. Addressing these extremes in antimalarial application can be essential in maintaining the relevance of the conventional antimalarials in ...
The ‘Blood-Type’ diet advises individuals to eat according to their ABO blood group to improve th... more The ‘Blood-Type’ diet advises individuals to eat according to their ABO blood group to improve their health and decrease the risk of chronic diseases. However, the food preferences of individuals with different blood groups have not been examined. The aim of our study was to investigate, in healthy regular blood donors (rBDs), the associations of smoke, alcohol, caffeine, vitamin and fat intake with their different blood groups and if ABO groups could be a potential predictor tool for disease prevention. A total of 329 volunteers were divided into four groups according to their ABO types: Group 1 (A) comprised 141 rBDs; Group 2 (B), 65 rBDs; Group 3 (O), 96 rBDs; and Group 4, 27 rBDs. Additionally, they were divided into two groups according to their rhesus types and their preferences for smoke, too. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day food recall and the Food Processor computer program for nutrient analysis. Alcohol, caffeine, sugar and Vitamin D consumption were significantly ...
Several measures are in place to combat the worldwide spread of malaria, especially in regions of... more Several measures are in place to combat the worldwide spread of malaria, especially in regions of high endemicity. In part, most common antimalarials, such as quinolines and artemisinin and its derivatives, deploy an ROS-mediated approach to kill malaria parasites. Although some antimalarials may share similar targets and mechanisms of action, varying levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation may account for their varying pharmacological activities. Regardless of the numerous approaches employed currently and in development to treat malaria, concerningly, there has been increasing development of resistance by Plasmodium falciparum, which can be connected to the ability of the parasites to manage the oxidative stress from ROS produced under steady or treatment states. ROS generation has remained the mainstay in enforcing the antiparasitic activity of most conventional antimalarials. However, a combination of conventional drugs with ROS-generating ability and newer drugs that...
Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) are currently the frontline treatment against Plas... more Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) are currently the frontline treatment against Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but parasite resistance to artemisinin (ART) and its derivatives, core components of ACTs, is spreading in the Mekong countries. In this study, we report the synthesis of several novel artemisinin derivatives and evaluate their in vitro and in silico capacity to counteract Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance. Furthermore, recognizing that the malaria parasite devotes considerable resources to minimizing the oxidative stress that it creates during its rapid consumption of hemoglobin and the release of heme, we sought to explore whether further augmentation of this oxidative toxicity might constitute an important addition to artemisinins. The present report demonstrates, in vitro, that FM-AZ, a newly synthesized artemisinin derivative, has a lower IC50 than artemisinin in P. falciparum and a rapid action in killing the parasites. The docking studies for ...
Malaria and Leishmaniasis are two major parasitic diseases, endemic in large areas of tropical co... more Malaria and Leishmaniasis are two major parasitic diseases, endemic in large areas of tropical countries with high morbidity and mortality across the world. Nanoparticles in small sizes are specifically considered in medicine due to their ability to enter the cells, control the distribution of the administered drug and carry the drug specifically to the place of action. The present study aims to introduce the application of silica nanoparticles as new promising nanotools in malaria and leishmaniasis treatment. Ion doped silica nanomaterials revealed antileishmanial activities indicating the positive role of calcium, magnesium and copper to the surface of the particles against Leishmania parasites. Artemisinin-loaded nanoparticles presented the most promising antiparasitic properties with a sustained release able to overcome the parasite invasion. The sustainable release of artemisinin guarantee both the maintenance of its potential efficacy and also introduce an administration of dr...
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