Superoxide: A major role in the mechanism of action of essential antimalarial drugs

Understanding the mode of action antimalarials is central to optimizing their use and discovery new therapeutics. Currently used belong a limited series chemical structures mechanisms are coutinuously debated. Whereas involvement reactive species that in turn kill parasites sensitive oxidative stress, accepted for artemisinins, little known about generation such case quinolines or hydroxynaphtoquinone. Moreover, nature involved has never been characterized Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes. The aim this work was determine elucidate production primary radical, superoxide erythrocytes treated with artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, chloroquine atovaquone, as representatives three major classes antimalarials. intracellular quantified by liquid chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (LC-MS). We demonstrated atovaquone lesser extent chloroquine, generate significant levels radicals Plasmodium falciparum strains. More so, lowered chloroquine-resistant strain chloroquine. These results consolidate knowledge mechanism these different should be taken into consideration design future drugs fight drug-resistant parasites.