ANTI MALARIAL DRUGS
PREPARED BY MR. ABHIJIT DAS
Antimalarial drugs are medications used to
prevent and treat malaria, a life-threatening mosquito-borne infectious disease
caused by Plasmodium parasites.
CLASSIFICATION:
1.
BLOOD SCHIZONTICIDES: (IMP)
·
Definition:
Blood schizonticides are drugs that target the asexual blood stages of the
malaria parasite, where the parasites multiply within red blood cells.
·
Examples:
Chloroquine, mefloquine, quinine, and
atovaquone-proguanil.
· MOA: They interfere with the parasite's ability to detoxify heme, leading to the accumulation of toxic heme metabolites and subsequent death of the parasite within red blood cells.
·
Adverse effects:
a) Gastrointestinal
upset
b) Headache
c) Dizziness
d) Rash
e) Hemolysis
·
Uses:
a) Malaria
treatment
b) Malaria
prophylaxis
2.
HYPNOZOITOCIDES:
·
Definition:
Hypnozoitocides are drugs that specifically target the dormant liver stages
(hypnozoites) of certain malaria species, preventing the relapse of malaria.
·
Example:
Primaquine
·
MOA:
Primaquine acts by forming reactive oxygen species, disrupting mitochondrial
function, and inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis in the liver-stage malaria
parasites (hypnozoites). These actions prevent the development and relapse of
Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale.
·
Adverse effects
a) Hemolysis
b) Gastrointestinal
upset
c) Headache
d) Dizziness
·
Uses:
a) Malaria
treatment
b) Prevention
of malaria relapse
CELL CYCLE:
