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The role of haem iron (II) and oxidative stress in the activation and antimalarial activity of artemisinin is unclear. Thus, we submitted malaria parasite to modified culture conditions: artemisinin activity increased by 20-30% under an oxygen-rich atmosphere (20% O2 instead of "standard" 1% O2), and by 40-50% in the presence of carboxy-haemoglobin, and 2% carbon monoxide, conditions which inhibit haem iron (II) reactivity. In all cases, parasite growth and chloroquine activity were unaffected. We conclude that in the malaria parasite artemisinin is not activated by haem iron and that free radicals are not needed for its toxicity.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.febslet.2004.08.039

Type

Journal article

Journal

FEBS letters

Publication Date

09/2004

Volume

575

Pages

91 - 94

Addresses

Istituto di Microbiologia, Universita' di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy.

Keywords

Erythrocytes, Animals, Humans, Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria, Carbon Monoxide, Oxygen, Iron, Sesquiterpenes, Artemisinins, Heme, Chloroquine, Hemoglobins, Antimalarials, Oxidation-Reduction, Oxidative Stress