title: In vitro activity of artemether against African isolates (Senegal) of Plasmodium falciparum in comparison with standard antimalarial drugs.
abstract: The in vitro activity of artemether against 56 African isolates of Plasmodium falciparum from Senegal was evaluated using an isotope-based drug susceptibility semi-microtest. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for artemether were in a narrow range from 0.8 to 15.2 nM (mean IC50 = 3.43 nM) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was 2.50-4.36 nM. Artemether was equally effective on chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant isolates (mean IC50 = 346 nM, 95% CI = 2.08-4.84 nM versus mean IC50 = 2.80 nM, 95% CI = 2.00-3.60 nM). There was a significant positive correlation between responses to artemether and mefloquine (r2 = 0.36, P < 0.001), artemether and quinine (r2 = 0.085, P < 0.05), artemether and halofantrine (r2 = 0.075, P < 0.05), quinine and mefloquine (r2 = 0.205, P < 0.01), quinine and halofantrine (r2 = 0.124, P < 0.05), and mefloquine and halofantrine (r2 = 0.801, P < 0.001). A positive correlation between these drugs suggests in vitro cross-resistance or at least in vitro cross-susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Unite de Parasitologie, Institut de Medecine Tropicale du Service de Sante des Armees, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pradines
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogier
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fusai
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tall
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Trape
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Doury
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D011803:Quinine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012675:Senegal; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D002738:Chloroquine; D011803:Quinine; D000077549:Artemether; C023768:halofantrine; D015767:Mefloquine