Aryl-alkyl-lysines: small molecular membrane-active antiplasmodial agents.

Due to emerging resistance there is a steady need for new antimalarial drugs. Here, we report a new class of water soluble, non-toxic compounds, aryl-alkyl-lysines, with promising activity against the ring stage of . The optimal compound perturbed the plasma membrane potential and the digestive vacuole of parasites. In the murine model of malaria ( ANKA) the compound was able to increase the survival of mice by at least 5 days by an intra-peritoneal route. Further, the compounds showed no apparent toxicity to mice at the concentration tested.