title: Suppressive effects of the anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine on the anti-malarial activity of artesunate.
abstract: The anti-oxidant drug N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been proposed as adjunctive treatment in severe falciparum malaria. However, this might inhibit the anti-malarial drug action of the artemisinins, which are thought to exert their parasitocidal action through oxidative damage. We studied the interaction between NAC and artesunate as well as quinine in an in vitro drug sensitivity assay. Combination with NAC reduced the parasitocidal effect of artesunate only within the first 6 h of incubation, whereas no interaction was observed with quinine. Pre-incubation of P. falciparum with NAC resulted in a similar inhibitory effect on the anti-malarial activity of artesunate, whereas no inhibition was observed when NAC was added 2 h after parasite exposure to artesunate. Assessment of parasite maturation inhibition by the standard Giemsa's staining was in accordance with the use of a vital staining. The results herein caution the use of adjunctive treatment for malaria infection. Combination of antagonistic drugs may lead to adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Peera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arreesrisom
authors.forename: Arjen M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dondorp
authors.forename: Sornchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Looareesuwan
authors.forename: Rachanee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Udomsangpetch
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077332:Artesunate; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D011803:Quinine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D000975:Antioxidants; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000077332:Artesunate; D011803:Quinine; D000111:Acetylcysteine