Potent Plasmodium falciparum gametocytocidal compounds identified by exploring the kinase inhibitor chemical space for dual active antimalarials.

Objectives: Novel chemical tools to eliminate malaria should ideally target both the asexual parasites and transmissible gametocytes. Several imidazopyridazines (IMPs) and 2-aminopyridines (2-APs) have been described as potent antimalarial candidates targeting lipid kinases. However, these have not been extensively explored for stage-specific inhibition of gametocytes in Plasmodium falciparum parasites.

Synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation of dihydroartemisinyl-chalcone esters.

A series of dihydroartemisinyl-chalcone esters were synthesized through esterification of chalcones with dihydroartemisinin (DHA). The hybrids were screened against chloroquine (CQ) sensitive (3D7) and CQ resistant (W2) strains of intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum parasites, and were all found to be active, with IC50 values ranging between 1.5 and 11 nM against both strains, with SI values over 5800.