SODIUM BETA-ARTELINATE - A NEW POTENTIAL GAMETOCYTOCIDE

The water-soluble artemisinin analogue sodium beta-artelinate, a fast- acting blood schizontocide, was evaluated for gametocytocidal action a gainst simian malaria Plasmodium cynomolgi B, and a single dose of the compound has been found to be an effective gametocytocide by both ora l and intravenous routes. The compound was able to sterilize the circu lating gametocytes in rhesus monkey, resulting in loss of mosquito inf ectivity and oocyst development in the Anopheles stephensi. However, n o sporontocidal action has been observed with this compound. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.