title: Comparison of bioassay and high performance liquid chromatographic assay of artesunate and dihydroartemisinin in plasma.
abstract: The study was a comparison of bioassay and HPLC analysis of artesunate (ARTS) and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in plasma. ARTS and DHA in plasma samples from patients treated with ARTS were quantified by HPLC and expressed as DHA. DHA-equivalents in the same plasma samples were measured using a standardised parasite culture technique. DHA concentrations estimated by both methods were highly correlated (bioassay=0.96 x HPLC+11.0; r2=0.92). At high concentrations (>12000 nmol/l) bioassay sometimes overestimated DHA. Bioassay of active drug in plasma correlates well with specific chemical analysis by HPLC. ARTS and DHA appear to account for the total antimalarial activity in plasma after ARTS administration.
authors.affiliation: Australian Army Malaria Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kotecka
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rieckmann
authors.forename: T M E
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Batty
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Ilett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077332:Artesunate; D001681:Biological Assay; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000077332:Artesunate; C039060:artenimol