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Malaria, anti malarial drugs and the role of melatonin.

Infectious disorders drug targets
October 1, 2012
Venkataramanujam Srinivasan et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to explore whether blocking melatonin's action on Plasmodium species via bright light therapy or melatonin receptor blocking could be effective in eliminating malarial infections.

Results Summary

The abstract suggests that bright light therapy or melatonin receptor blocking may be useful approaches for eliminating malarial infection by disrupting the growth and development of Plasmodium species, particularly during nighttime. No specific results from clinical trials or experiments are provided.

Population

Not specified (theoretical approach for malarial infection in humans).

Effective Dosage

Not mentioned

Duration

Not mentioned

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
insecticide spraying
decrease
malaria eradication
global population
-
resulted in good response
#1
anti-malarial drugs
decrease
malarial infections
malaria infected patients
-
helped to eliminate
#2
melatonin
increase
growth and development
Plasmodium falciparum
-
acts as a cue for
#3
bright light therapy
decrease
malarial infection
man
-
block the action of melatonin
#4
melatonin receptor blocking
decrease
malarial infection
man
-
block the action of melatonin
#5
Abstract

Malaria, one of the most deadly diseases of our time affects more than 200 million people across the globe and is responsible for about one million deaths annually. Until recently Plasmodium falciparum has been the main cause for malarial infection in human beings but now Plasmodium knowlesi from Malaysia remains as one of the most virulent parasite spreading fast not only in Malaysia but in different parts of the world. Hence there is urgent need for the global fight to control malaria. Global malaria eradication program by use of insecticide spraying has resulted in good response in the past. Treatment of malaria infected patients with anti-malarial drugs has helped to eliminate malarial infections successfully but with increased resistance displayed by malarial parasites to these drugs there is resurgence of malaria caused both by drug resistance as well as by infection caused by new malarial species like Plasmodium knowlesi. With recent advances on molecular studies on malarial parasites it is now clear that the pineal hormone melatonin acts as a cue for growth and development of Plasmodium falciparum. Same may be true for Plasmodium knowlesi also. Hence treatment modalities that can effectively block the action of melatonin on Plasmodium species during night time by way of using either bright light therapy or use of melatonin receptor blocking can be considered as useful approaches for eliminating malarial infection in man.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsAntimalarialsDrug ResistanceGlobal HealthHumansMalariaMalaria, FalciparumMelatoninPlasmodium falciparumPlasmodium knowlesiTime Factors
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy70/10
Quality60/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations4
Citations/Year0.3
Relative Citation Ratio0.14
NIH Percentile6.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score0.54
Normalized Score0.60
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