title: In vitro effect of artesunate against Acanthamoeba spp.
abstract: The in vitro effects of artesunate, the antimalarial agent, and metronidazole against Acanthamoeba spp were studied. Acanthamoeba Group II and Acanthamoeba polyphaga-like were isolated from natural water courses in Buri Ram Province, northeastern Thailand. The trophozoites were axenically cultured in PPYG medium and treated with artesunate in a concentration of 5-700 microg/ml. Artesunate showed its ability to inhibit the growth of acanthamoeba trophozoites: 54% at 50 mg/ml (after six days of exposure) and 93.2% at 100 microg/ml (after two days). The 500-700 microg/ml concentration caused inhibition on the first day of more than 93.2%; excystation did not occur in drug-treated medium. The present study shows that artesunate is amebastatic rather than amebicidal in an axenic culture of trophozoites at the highest concentration of 100 microg/ml. Metronidazole, in concentrations of 5-1,000 microg/ml, had no effects on either trophozoites or cysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. mtdnc@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Duangporn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nacapunchai
authors.forename: Kulada
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Phadungkul
authors.forename: Surat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaewcharus
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D000563:Amebicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077332:Artesunate; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000563:Amebicides; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000077332:Artesunate