title: The antiparasitic compound licochalcone a is a potent echinocytogenic agent that modifies the erythrocyte membrane in the concentration range where antiplasmodial activity is observed.
abstract: The well-known antiparasitic compound licochalcone A is a potent membrane-active agent that transforms normal erythrocytes into echinocytes in parallel with the inhibition of growth of Plasmodium falciparum cultures, the in vitro antiplasmodial effect apparently being an indirect effect on the host cell. In vitro experiments with synchronous cultures demonstrate that inhibition of invasion is the principal mechanism of growth inhibition. The erythrocyte membrane-modifying effect was also transiently observed in vivo in mice after intravenous administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hanne L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: Harald S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staerk
authors.forename: Søren Brøgger
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hägerstrand
authors.forename: Jerzy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jaroszewski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002599:Chalcone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047188:Chalcones; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D047188:Chalcones; D002599:Chalcone; C070840:licochalcone A