Lipid Metabolism in Plasmodium: Implication as Possible Target for Chemotherapy
N. N. Nwobodo¹*, P. O. Okonkwo² and S. A. Igwe¹1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu Nigeria.
2Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Nigeria.
Abstract: Lipid metabolism of the parasite is associated with alterations in fatty acids and cholesterol in the erythrocyte plasma membrane, which in turn are responsible for changes in permeability and fragility. The augmentation of all the membrane systems of the infected erythrocyte causes the lipid content to rise rapidly, but the parasite lipid composition differs from that of the erythrocyte in many respects. Phospholipid metabolism has been identified as an ideal target for novel anti-malarial chemotherapy due to its vital importance to the parasite. This paper attempts to review the underlying lipid metabolic pathways in the malaria parasite and their potential benefit as likely targets for novel anti-malarial chemotherapy.
Keywords: Lipid metabolism; plasmodium; possible target; chemotherapy Back to TOC