Antimalarial Natural Products

This book provides a comprehensive overview of malaria, including its history, biology, and treatment. It discusses the discovery of quinine and artemisinin as effective antimalarial drugs and covers other clinically used natural products with antiplasmodial activity. It also highlights the challenges and potential of discovering new antimalarial natural products.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 106 pages
Publication date: 05 January 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Malaria, a devastating parasitic disease, has plagued humanity for centuries. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times, and it remains a significant global health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. In this comprehensive volume, we delve into the history, biology, and treatment of malaria.

The book begins with a concise overview of malaria, including its symptoms, transmission, and impact on human health. It then delves into the intricate details of malaria biology, exploring the lifecycle of the malaria parasite, its immune evasion strategies, and the mechanisms of drug resistance.

The discovery of quinine as a potent antimalarial agent is a pivotal chapter in the history of malaria treatment. Quinine was first isolated from the bark of the cinchona tree in the late 1800s, and it quickly became the mainstay of malaria therapy. However, the development of drug resistance has posed a significant challenge to the long-term effectiveness of quinine.

This volume comprehensively describes the biosynthesis of quinine, its mechanism of action, and its clinical use. It also discusses the development of synthetic antimalarial agents based on the structure of quinine, as well as the discovery of artemisinin and its subsequent development as the most effective current antimalarial drug.

Artemisinin, derived from the plant Artemisia annua, has revolutionized the treatment of malaria. Its rapid onset of action, high efficacy, and low resistance rates have made it the preferred choice for malaria treatment worldwide. The synthesis and biosynthesis of artemisinin are detailed in this volume, along with its mechanism of action and clinical use.

Other clinically used antimalarial natural products are also covered in depth. These include compounds such as chloroquine, mefloquine, and atovaquone-proguanil, which have played significant roles in malaria treatment over the years. The book provides summaries of their synthesis, mechanism of action, and clinical use, as well as information on their resistance patterns.

A detailed treatment of additional natural products with significant antiplasmodial activity is presented. These compounds are classified based on their chemical structure and mechanism of action. The search for new antimalarial natural products from Natures combinatorial library is challenging, but it is highly likely to yield new antimalarial drugs.

The book concludes by identifying ten natural products with development potential as clinical antimalarial agents. These compounds have shown promising results in preclinical studies and have the potential to be developed into effective treatments for malaria.

In conclusion, this volume provides a comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of malaria, from its history and biology to its treatment and discovery of new antimalarial agents. It is an essential resource for researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers involved in the fight against malaria.

Malaria, a devastating parasitic disease, has plagued humanity for centuries. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times, and it remains a significant global health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. In this comprehensive volume, we delve into the history, biology, and treatment of malaria.

The book begins with a concise overview of malaria, including its symptoms, transmission, and impact on human health. It then delves into the intricate details of malaria biology, exploring the lifecycle of the malaria parasite, its immune evasion strategies, and the mechanisms of drug resistance.

The discovery of quinine as a potent antimalarial agent is a pivotal chapter in the history of malaria treatment. Quinine was first isolated from the bark of the cinchona tree in the late 1800s, and it quickly became the mainstay of malaria therapy. However, the development of drug resistance has posed a significant challenge to the long-term effectiveness of quinine.

This volume comprehensively describes the biosynthesis of quinine, its mechanism of action, and its clinical use. It also discusses the development of synthetic antimalarial agents based on the structure of quinine, as well as the discovery of artemisinin and its subsequent development as the most effective current antimalarial drug.

Artemisinin, derived from the plant Artemisia annua, has revolutionized the treatment of malaria. Its rapid onset of action, high efficacy, and low resistance rates have made it the preferred choice for malaria treatment worldwide. The synthesis and biosynthesis of artemisinin are detailed in this volume, along with its mechanism of action and clinical use.

Other clinically used antimalarial natural products are also covered in depth. These include compounds such as chloroquine, mefloquine, and atovaquone-proguanil, which have played significant roles in malaria treatment over the years. The book provides summaries of their synthesis, mechanism of action, and clinical use, as well as information on their resistance patterns.

A detailed treatment of additional natural products with significant antiplasmodial activity is presented. These compounds are classified based on their chemical structure and mechanism of action. The search for new antimalarial natural products from Natures combinatorial library is challenging, but it is highly likely to yield new antimalarial drugs.

The book concludes by identifying ten natural products with development potential as clinical antimalarial agents. These compounds have shown promising results in preclinical studies and have the potential to be developed into effective treatments for malaria.

In conclusion, this volume provides a comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of malaria, from its history and biology to its treatment and discovery of new antimalarial agents. It is an essential resource for researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers involved in the fight against malaria.

Weight: 197g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030898755
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022