A review on artemisinin based combination therapy for the treatment of Malaria

Abstract

Resistance of malarial parasites to the conventional antimalarial drugs is increasing relentlessly. In response to this situation, artemisinin based combination therapy has been proposed to be the first line defense for treating malaria by the World Health Organization. The artemisinin based combination therapy involves the collaboration of rapid schizontocidal activity of artemisinin or its derivative such as artesunate, artmether and dihydroartemisinin with another drug as partner drug that possess a longer half life. According to a report of International Artemisinin Study Group published in 2004 Artemisinin based combination therapy can cure 90% malaria infected people along with acting against malaria gametocytes as a consequence of which has the ability to potentially reduce the transmission. The efficacy is determined by the drug partnering the artemisinin or its derivative. In addition, most malaria endemic countries are now likely to adopt artemisinin based combination treatments for treating malaria as they are reliably effective.