Chalcones as an Emerging Lead Molecule for Antimalarial Therapy: A Review (JMMC v1n2a1) - synergy - synergy

Chalcones as an Emerging Lead Molecule for Antimalarial Therapy: A Review Pages 64-77

Shweta Sinha1, Bikash Medhi2 and Rakesh Sehgal1

1Department of Parasitology, Research Block-A, Ground Floor, PGIMER, Chandigarh-160012, India; 2Department of Pharmacology, Research Block-B, Fourth Floor, PGIMER, Chandigarh-160012, India

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12970/2308-8044.2013.01.02.1

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Abstract: Chalcones (1, 3, diaryl-2-propen-1-ones), are one of the plant secondary metabolite belonging to flavonoid family and has been widely explored in past decennium for its various pharmacological activities including antimalarial activity. Plasmodium aspartate proteases and cysteine proteases are the promising targets in malarial chemotherapy to overcome the drug resistance. Chalcones supposed to show antimalarial activity by inhibiting either Plasmodium aspartate proteases or cysteine proteases. This review covers the mechanism of action, previous reported studies showing antimalarial activity of natural and synthetic chalcones and its derivatives along with future prospects to fight against drug resistant malaria. These compounds provide an option of developing inexpensive, synthetic therapeutic antimalarial agents and may serve as lead compounds for development of drug in near future.

Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium, activity, structure, cysteine protease. Read more